Potassium Fluoride
- Potassium Fluoride Identification
- How is Potassium Fluoride Prepared
- Reactions with Other Compounds
- Properties and Characteristics of Potassium Fluoride
- What Is It Used for
- Is It Safe
Potassium fluoride, represented by the chemical formula KF, is an inorganic compound comprising an alkali metal potassium and monoatomic anion fluoride [1]. It exists in its solid state or aqueous solution form, with the mineral carobbiite being the naturally occurring KF [1]. It also exists in other compounds like potassium fluoride dihydrate (KFH4O2) and potassium fluoride tetrahydrate (KFH8O4) [1].
Potassium Fluoride Identification |
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CAS Number | 7789-23-3 [1] |
PubChem CID | 522689 [1] |
ChemSpider ID | 23006 [2] |
EC Number | 232-151-5 [1, 3] |
UNII | 9082WG1G3F [1] |
RTECS Number | TT0700000 |
InChI Key | NROKBHXJSPEDAR-UHFFFAOYSA-M [1] |

Potassium Fluoride Formula
How is Potassium Fluoride Prepared
It is synthesized by reacting potassium carbonate with excess hydrofluoric acid and then evaporating the subsequent solution to form potassium bifluoride crystals [4]. The crystals are then heated to produce potassium fluoride, as shown by the following equations [4]:
K2CO3 4HF → 2KHF2 H2O CO2↑
KHF2 → KF HF↑
Reactions with Other Compounds
Silver Nitrate and Potassium Fluoride
If an aqueous solution of potassium fluoride is mixed with a solution of silver nitrate, a double displacement reaction occurs producing silver fluoride, as shown below [5]:
2KF 2AgNO3 → 2KNO3 2AgF
Potassium Fluoride and Hydrobromic Acid
When potassium fluoride reacts with hydrobromic acid, it undergoes a double displacement reaction to form potassium bromide and hydrofluoric acid [6]:
KF HBr → KBr HF
Potassium Fluoride and Water
Reacting potassium fluoride with water causes it to completely dissociate wherein the fluorine ion mixes with water to produce hydrofluoric acid, and the potassium ions remain inactive as spectator ions. The ionic equation is as follows [7]:
F– H2O ↔ HF OH–

Potassium Fluoride Crystals
Properties and Characteristics of Potassium Fluoride
General Properties |
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Molar Mass/Molecular Weight | 58.097 g/mol (anhydrous) [1, 3] |
Physical Properties |
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Color and Appearance | White/colorless deliquescent, crystalline powder [1] |
Melting Point | 858 °C, 1576 °F (anhydrous) [1, 3] |
Boiling Point | 1502 °C, 2741 °F [1] |
Density | 2.48 g cm-3 [1, 3] |
State of matter at room temperature | Solid [1, 3] |
pH | 8.5-10.3 at 25 °C [9] |
Solubility | Insoluble in alcohol but soluble in hydrogen fluoride [1] |
Solubility in Water | 102 g/100 ml at 25 °C, 92 g/100 ml at 18 °C [1] |
Magnetic Susceptibility (χ) | -23.6 X 10-6 cm3 mol-1 [8] |
Atomic Properties |
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Crystal Structure | Cubic |

Potassium Fluoride Lewis Dot Structure
What Is It Used for
- Salt fluoridation as a means of community-based fluoridation through the addition of KF to iodized salt, with fluoride concentration less than 250 mg per kg [1].
- Preparing silver soldering flux used by crafters and metal workers [1].
- Increasing the rate of chemical reactions as a catalyst in organic synthesis [1].
- Etching and frosting glass because of the synthesis of soluble fluorosilicates [1].
- Making disinfectants, insecticides, and pesticides [1].
Is It Safe
Ingestion or inhalation of excessive amounts of KF can cause acute toxicity [1]. Being highly corrosive, its contact with skin can result in severe burns [1]. Although it is non-combustible, it decomposes upon heating to yield toxic fumes [1].
References:
- Potassium Fluoride – Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Potassium Fluoride – Chemspider.com
- Potassium Fluoride – Americanelements.com
- Potassium Carbonate React with Hydrogen Fluoride – Chemiday.com
- Precipitation Reactions – Chem.libretexts.org
- Chemical Equation Balancer – En.intl.chemicalaid.com
- Write the net ionic equation for the equilibrium that is established when potassium fluoride is dissolved in water – Chemistryfeedsolutions.wordpress.com
- Magnetic Susceptibility Of The Elements And Inorganic Compounds – Gemstonemagnetism.com
- Potassium Fluoride – Hamptonresearch.com