Ferricyanide

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title: "Ferricyanide" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["anions", "iron-complexes", "cyanometallates", "iron(iii)-compounds"] description: "Anion in which a Fe3+ ion is complexed by 6 CN– ions" topic_path: "general/anions" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferricyanide" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Anion in which a Fe3+ ion is complexed by 6 CN– ions ::

|Watchedfields = changed |verifiedrevid = 444964110 |ImageFile = HexacyanidoferratIII_2.svg |ImageClass = skin-invert-image |ImageSize = 175 |ImageFile1 = Ferricyanide-3D.png |ImageClass1 = bg-transparent |ImageSize1 = 240 |IUPACName = iron(3+) hexacyanide |SystematicName = hexacyanidoferrate(III) |OtherNames =ferric hexacyanide; hexacyanidoferrate(3−); hexacyanoferrate(III) |Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers |CASNo_Ref = |CASNo = 13408-62-3 |ChEBI = 5020 |KEGG = C00324 |PubChem = 439210 |ChemSpiderID_Ref = |ChemSpiderID = 388349 |SMILES = N#CFe-3(C#N)(C#N)(C#N)C#N |StdInChI=1S/6CN.Fe/c61-2;/q6-1;+3 |StdInChIKey = YAGKRVSRTSUGEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N |Section2 = {{Chembox Properties |Formula = [Fe(CN)6]3− |Section8 = {{Chembox Related |OtherCompounds=Ferrocyanide |OtherCations=Hexacyanonickelate(III)

Ferricyanide is the name of the anion . It is also called hexacyanoferrate(III) and in rare, but systematic nomenclature, hexacyanidoferrate(III). The most common salt of this anion is potassium ferricyanide, a red crystalline material that is used as an oxidant in organic chemistry.

Properties

consists of a center bound in octahedral geometry to six cyanide ligands. The complex has Oh symmetry. The iron is low-spin and easily reduced to the related ferrocyanide ion , which is a ferrous () derivative. This redox couple is reversible and entails no making or breaking of Fe–C bonds: : This redox couple is a standard in electrochemistry.

Compared to main group cyanides like potassium cyanide, ferricyanides are much less toxic because of the strong bond between the cyanide ion () and the . They do react with mineral acids, however, to release highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas.

Uses

Treatment of ferricyanide with iron(II) salts affords the brilliant, long-lasting pigment Prussian blue, the traditional color of blueprints.

References

References

1. (October 2011). "Cyano Compounds, Inorganic".

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