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Encyclopedia Britannica



BICHROMATES AND CHROMATES

This article appears in Volume V03, Page 913 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: BER-BLA
BICHROMATES AND CHROMATES . Chromium trioxide dissolves readily in water, and the solution is supposed to contain chromic acid, H2CrO4; the salts of this acid are known as the chromates. In addition to these normal salts, others exist, namely bichromates, trichromates, &c., which may be regarded as combinations of one molecular proportion of the normal salt with one or more molecular proportions of chromium trioxide. The
series
  will thus possess the following general formulae:
M,CrO4 M2Cr2O7 1VI2Cr3Olo &c. (M =one atom of a normal chromate bichromate trichromate monovalent metal.)
Chromates.The alkaline chromates are usually obtained by fusion of a chromium compound with an alkaline carbonate and an oxidizing agent, such for example as potassium nitrate or chlorate. The native chrome-ironstone (Cr2O3.FeO) may be used in this way as a source of such compounds, being fused in a reverberatory furnace, along with soda-ash and lime, the oxidizing agent in this case being atmospheric oxygen. They may also be prepared by oxidizing chromium salts (in alkaline solution) with hydrogerr peroxide, chlorine, bleaching powder, potassium permanganate and manganese dioxide. The
majority
  of the chromates are yellow in colour, and many of them are isomorphous with the corresponding sulphates. The alkaline chromates are soluble in water, those of most other metals being insoluble. By the addition of
mineral
  acids, they are converted rapidly into bichromates. They are easily reduced in acid solution by sulphuretted hydrogen, and also by
sulphur
  dioxide to chromium salts. The chromates are stable towards heat; they are poisonous, and may be recognized by the yellow precipitates they give with soluble barium and lead salts.
Potassium chromate, K2CrO4, may be prepared by neutralizing a solution of potassium hichromate with potassium carbonate or with caustic potash. It crystallizes in yellow rhombic prisms, and is readily soluble in water, the solution having a bitter
taste
  and an alkaline reaction. When heated in a current of sulphuretted hydrogen, or carbon bisulphide, it yields a mixture of chromium sesquioxide and sulphide. When heated with
sulphur
  it yields chromium sesquioxide. Sodium chromate, Na2CrO41OH2O, forms
pale
  yellow crystals isomorphous with hydrated scdium sulphate, Na2SO4.10H2O. I t is deliquescent, and melts at 23 C. (M. Berthelot). By evaporation of its aqueous solution at temperatures above 30 C. it may be obtained in the anhydrous condition. Lead chromate, PbCrO4, occurs native as the
mineral
  crocoisite, and may be obtained as an amorphous
pale
  yellow solid by precipitating a soluble lead salt by an alkaline chromate. It is used as a pigment under the name "chrome yellow." When digested for some time with a caustic alkali it is converted into a basic salt, PbCrO4PbO, a pigment known as " chrome red." It melts readily, and on cooling resolidifies to a brown mass, which at moderately high temperatures gives off oxygen and leaves a residue of a basic leac salt; for this reason fused lead chromate is sometimes made use of in the analysis of organic compounds. Silver chromate, Ag2CrO4, is a dark red amorphous powder obtained when silver nitrate is precipitated by an alkaline chromate. It is decomposed by the addition of caustic alkalis, forming silver
oxide
  and an alkaline chromate.
Bichromates.The bichromates are usually of a red or reddish-brown colour, those of the alkali metals being readily soluble in water. They are readily decomposed by heat, leaving a residue of the normal chromate and chromium sesquioxide, and liberating oxygen; ammonium bichromate, however, is completely decomposed
into chromium sesquioxide, water and nitrogen. Sulphuretted hydrogen and sulphur dioxide reduce them in acid solution to the condition of chromium salts.
Potassium bichromate, K2Cr207, is obtained by fusing chrome ironstone with soda ash and lime (see above), the calcium chromate formed in the process being decomposed by a hot solution of potassium sulphate. After the calcium sulphate has settled, the potassium chromate solution is converted into bichromate by the action of sulphuric acid, and the salt is allowed to crystallize. It forms large triclinic prisms of specific gravity 2.62.7, which are moderately soluble in cold water and readily soluble in hot water. The solution is strongly acid in reaction and is very poisonous. Potassium bichromate finds extensive application in organic chemistry as an oxidizing agent, being used for this purpose in dilute sulphuric acid solution, K,Cr2O7 +4H2SO4= K2SO4+Cr2(SO4) 3+4H2O+30. On the addition of concentrated sulphuric acid to a cold saturated solution of the salt, red crystals of chromium trioxide, CrO3,
separate
  (see CHROMIUM), whilst when warmed with concentrated hydrochloric acid and a little water, potassium chlorochromate is produced. When heated with phosphorus trichloride in a sealed tube to 16o C., potassium chlorochromate, phosphorus oxychloride, potassium chloride, and a complex chromium
oxide
  (possibly Cr30e) are produced (A. Michaelis, Jour.
peak
 . Chem., 1871, ii. 4, p. 452). Potassium bichromate finds application in photography, in calico-printing, and in the preparation of bichromate cells. Sodium bichromate, Na2Cr2Oi.2H20, may be obtained by the addition of the requisite quantity of chromium trioxide to a solution of sodium chromate. It crystallizes in hyacinth-red prisms, which are very hygroscopic and melt at 320 C.
Trichromates.The trichromates are obtained by the addition of nitric acid (of specific gravity about 1.2) to solutions of the bichromates. They form rhombic crystals of a red or brown red colour and are readily decomposed by warm water, with formation of the bichromate.
Perchromic Acid.By the addition of hydrogen peroxide to a solution of chromic acid, a fine blue coloration due to a perchromic acid is produced which is readily absorbed by shaking out with ether. The following formulae have been assigned to the com-
p. 364), and CrOd.3H20 (T. Fairley, Chem. News, 1876, 33, p. 237). The more
recent
  investigations of H. G. Byers and E. E. Reed (Amer. Chem. Jour., 1904, 32, p. 503) show that if metallic potassium be added to an ethereal solution of the blue compound at -20 C., hydrogen is liberated and a purple black precipitate of the per-chromate, of composition KCrO4 or K2Ct20a, is produced; this compound is very unstable, and readily decomposes into oxygen and potassium bichromate. Similar sodium, ammonium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, barium and zinc salts have been obtained. It is shown that the blue solution most probably contains the acid of composition, H2Cr20a, whilst in the presence of an excess of hydrogen peroxide more highly oxidized products probably exist.


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