green fine crystalline powder
Ammonium Hexacyanoferrate(II) is used for the detection of calcium by spot test. A hazardous chemical compound and a useful reagent for the preparation of heterometallic complexes.
A poison. Reacts explosively withmetal nitrates when heated, e.g., cobalt(II) nitrate at 220°Cand copper(II) nitrate at 220°C. When heated todecomposition it emits toxic fumes of CN?? and NH3. Seealso CYANIDE.
The pale yellow trihydrate powder can be washed with 10% aqueous NH3, filtered, then washed several times with EtOH and Et2O, and dried at room temperature. It decomposes in a vacuum above 100o and should be stored away from light and under N2. In light and air it decomposes by losing NH3. [Lux in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chem (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol II p 1509 1965.]
