Potassium hydrogen fluoride is used as an etchant to etch glass
surface and it is used in the cleaning products. It is used as a
fluorinating agent for fluorinated organic compounds, which could be
applied as finishing agent for fabrics, components of extinguishing
agents, electroplating bathes, lubricating oils, oxygen carriers in
blood substitutes. For example, potassium hydrogen fluoride is used
as fluorinating agent for ring opening of epoxides and cyclopropanes
and in the synthesis of trifluoroborates from various organoborons.
It may also serve as a fluoride ion source for the nucleophilic
ring-opening reaction of epoxide.
[1] Gary A. Molander, David J. Cooper and Stephen W. Wright, Potassium Hydrogen Fluoride, e-EROS Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, 2001
[2] Bernd Basner, Houben-Weyl Methods of Organic Chemistry Vol. E 10b/1, 4th Edition, 1999
[3] Francis I. Onuska and Francis W. Karasek, Open Tubular Column Gas Chromatography in Environmental Sciences, 1984
[4] Michael Howe, Wheel cleaning composition containing acid fluoride salts, Patent “US 5556833 A”, 1996
[5] Grzegorz Lewandowski, Egbert Meissner and Eugeniusz Milchert, Special applications of fluorinated organic compounds, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2006, vol. 136, 385-391
WHITE TO LIGHT GREY CRYSTALS OR CRYSTALLINE POWDER
Potassium hydrogen fluoride is widely used as an etchant in glass and cleaning products. It finds an important application in the synthesis of special optical glass viz. crown and crown flint glass and as a catalyst for polymerization. It is involved in the manufacturing of wood preservatives, soldering agents and brazing. It is also used in the manufacturing of organic and inorganic fluorine compounds.
In the preparation of pure potassium fluoride; as an electrolyte in the manufacture of fluorine; frosting glass; treating coal to prevent slag formation; flux for silver solders; catalyst in the alkylation of benzene with olefins.
Colorless crystals, corrosive to tissues, etches glass.
Water soluble giving strongly acidic solutions.
Acidic salts, such as Potassium hydrogen fluoride, are generally soluble in water. The resulting solutions contain moderate concentrations of hydrogen ions and have pH's of less than 7.0. They react as acids to neutralize bases. These neutralizations generate heat, but less or far less than is generated by neutralization of inorganic acids, inorganic oxoacids, and carboxylic acid. They usually do not react as either oxidizing agents or reducing agents but such behavior is not impossible.
TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution.
Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes. Some are oxidizers and may ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated.
A poison. Very
corrosive and reactive. A corrosive irritant
to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes.
When heated to decomposition it emits
toxic fumes of F and K2O. See also
FLUORIDES and HYDROFLUORIC
ACID.
It crystallises from water. It is very soluble in hot H2O and 41% at 21o. [Kwasnik in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 237 1963.]
