Potassium selenate, , is an odorless, white solid that forms as the

potassium Potassium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol K (from Neo-Latin ) and atomic number19. It is a silvery white metal that is soft enough to easily cut with a knife. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmospheric oxygen to ...

salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

selenic acid Selenic acid is the inorganic compound with the formula . It is an oxoacid of selenium, and its structure is more accurately described as . It is a colorless compound. Although it has few uses, one of its salts, sodium selenate is used in the pr ...

Preparation

Potassium selenate is produced by the reaction of

selenium trioxide Selenium trioxide is the inorganic compound with the formula Se O3. It is white, hygroscopic solid. It is also an oxidizing agent and a Lewis acid. It is of academic interest as a precursor to Se(VI) compounds.Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holl ...

and

potassium hydroxide Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula K OH, and is commonly called caustic potash. Along with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), KOH is a prototypical strong base. It has many industrial and niche applications, most of which utili ...

. : Alternatively, it can be made by treating

selenous acid Selenous acid (or selenious acid) is the chemical compound with the formula . Structurally, it is more accurately described by . It is the principal oxoacid of selenium; the other being selenic acid. Formation and properties Selenous acid is ana ...

with potassium hydroxide, followed by oxidation of the resulting potassium selenite with bromine water. : :

Uses

Potassium selenate can be used to produce

. It can also use to treat selenium deficiency in livestock.

References

{{Selenates Potassium compounds Selenates