PLATINOCYANIC ACID Meaning and
Definition
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Platinocyanic acid is a chemical compound that falls under the category of inorganic acids. It is an acid form of the platinocyanide anion, which consists of a central platinum ion complexed with multiple cyanide (CN-) ligands. In its pure state, platinocyanic acid is a colorless, crystalline solid.
The chemical formula of platinocyanic acid is H2[Pt(CN)6], indicating that each molecule comprises two hydrogen ions (H+) bonded with a complex formed by a central platinum ion and six cyanide ions. It is worth noting that platinocyanic acid is a polyprotic acid, meaning it can donate multiple protons in solution.
Platinocyanic acid is typically prepared by the reaction between platinum salts and potassium cyanide. It is an unstable compound and tends to decompose under various conditions, releasing toxic cyanide gas and forming other platinum compounds.
This compound finds limited use in various chemical processes, especially in catalysis, due to its ability to undergo redox reactions. Its applications include the production of pigments, as well as in laboratory research for the synthesis of other platinum-containing compounds. However, platinocyanic acid is not commercially available and is mostly used as an intermediate or starting material for other chemical reactions.
Overall, platinocyanic acid is a complex and unstable compound with limited practical applications, primarily employed in the synthesis of platinum-based compounds and in catalytic processes.
Etymology of PLATINOCYANIC ACID
The word "platinocyanic acid" is derived from the combination of two parts: "platinocyanic" and "acid".
The term "platinocyanic" refers to the element platinum (Pt) in combination with the root "cyan", which comes from the Greek word "kyanos", meaning "dark blue". In chemistry, "cyan" or "cyano" is often used to indicate the presence of a cyanide group (-CN).
The word "acid" is derived from the Latin word "acidus", meaning "sour". In chemistry, an acid is a substance that can donate a proton (H+) or accept an electron pair during a chemical reaction.
Therefore, "platinocyanic acid" can be understood as an acid that contains platinum and a cyanide group, denoting its chemical composition and characteristics.
