Precipitation of Ferricyanide(III) with silver nitrate

Chemicals needed

distilled water

potassium hexacyanoferrate(III)

silver nitrate solution, diluted

Equipment necessary

test tube

Test procedure

• One adds a small spatula-tipful of potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) into a test tube and then approx. 1 ml of distilled water. A yellow solution results.
• Add some drops of silver nitrate. A red-orange deposit is precipitated.

Disposal

The solution is disposed of as silver waste, if this is not available, then as heavy metal waste.

Elucidation

Silver hexacyanoferrate(III) is formed, which like many silver salts is insoluble and therefore precipitates.

Photos

Clear solution of potassium hexacyanoferrate(III)

Addition of silver nitrate solution causes orange turbidity

Literature

Derived from III.13 "Hexacyanoferrat-(III)-nachweis als Ag3[Fe(CN)6]",[3]