Related compounds Molar mass 72.171 g/mol Appearance white solid | Formula HKS Density 1.68 g/cm³ | |
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Potassium hydrosulfide is the inorganic compound with the formula KHS. This colourless salt consists of the cation K+ and the bisulfide anion [SH]−. It is the product of the half-neutralization of hydrogen sulfide with potassium hydroxide. The compound is used in the synthesis of some organosulfur compounds. It is prepared by neutralizing aqueous KOH with H2S. Aqueous solutions of potassium sulfide consist of a mixture of potassium hydrosulfide and potassium hydroxide.
The structure of the potassium hydrosulfide resembles that for potassium chloride. Their structure is however complicated by the non-spherical symmetry of the SH− anions, but these tumble rapidly in the solid high temperatures.
Addition of sulfur gives dipotassium pentasulfide.
Synthesis
Potassium hydrosulfide is synthesized by the reaction between a solution of potassium sulfide with excess hydrogen sulfide.