Characteristic

 

Potassium ferrioxalate is a chemical compound with the formula K₃[Fe(C₂O₄)₃]. It often occurs as the trihydrate K₃[Fe(C₂O₄)₃]·3H₂O. Both are crystalline compounds, lime green in colour, also known as potassium trisoxalatoferrate or potassium tris(oxalato)ferrate(III). The ferrioxalate anion is quite stable in the dark, but is decomposed by light and higher-energy electromagnetic radiation.

Chemical formula:K₃[Fe(C₂O₄)₃] (anhydrous);K₃[Fe(C₂O₄)₃]·3H₂O (trihydrate)

Molar mass:437.20 g/mol (anhydrous);491.25 g/mol (trihydrate)

Appearance:emerald green hydrated crystals

Density:2.13 g/cm³

Melting point:230 °C (446 °F; 503 K) the trihydrate loses 3H2O at 113 °C

Coordination geometry:octahedral

Dipole moment:0 D

 

Application

 

Potassium trioxalatoferrate(III) trihydrate is used in chemical actinometry to measure light flux.