Potassium thiocyanate is an inorganic reagent used for many industrial applications. The pharmaceutical industry uses potassium thiocyanate as a raw material for chemotherapeutic drugs, antibiotics and thyroid medications. The chemical industry uses this inorganic reagent to produce photographs and textiles and to manufacture herbicides, fungicides and pesticides.General InformationPotassium thiocyante, also known as thiocyanic acid, potassium salt and potassium isothiocayante is a white crystalline powder with a melting point of 342 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, the inorganic reagent is a stable compound that is not compatible with acids, strong oxidizing agents or active halogen compounds. You should take care not to swallow or allow the absorption of potassium thiocyanate by your skin. Contact with the skin can lead to ulcerations and discoloration. You should seek medical attention if you swallow or allow this inorganic reagent to contact your skin.Textiles and PhotographyIn fine-grain photography, film processors use potassium thiocyanate to produce reduction in size of individual silver halide grains because of its dissolving action. This physical development produces a more uniform deposition of silver in your photographs and helps in the toning and stabilization of photographs. The textile industry uses potassium thiocyanate to print and dye synthetic textiles.Electroplating and PharmaceuticalsIn electroplating, metal workers use potassium thyocyanate to brighten or shine the finished product of many kinds of metals. Additionally, in the production of medications, pharmaceutical companies use potassium thiocyanate as a starting agent in synthesis, as a dye and an analytical reagent

Potassium thiocyanateis thechemical compoundwith the molecular formula KSCN. It is an important salt of thethiocyanateanion, one of thepseudohalides. The compound has a low melting point relative to most other inorganic salts.[edit]Use in chemical synthesisAqueous KSCN reacts almost quantitatively withPb(NO3)2to give Pb(SCN)2, which has been used to convertacyl chloridesto thiocyanates.[1]KSCN convertsethylene carbonatetoethylenesulfide.[2]For this purpose, the KSCN is first melted under vacuum to remove water. In a related reaction, KSCN converts cyclohexene oxide to the correspondingepisulfide.[3]C6H10O + KSCN C6H10S +KOCNKSCN is also the starting product for the synthesis ofcarbonyl sulfide.[edit]Other usesDilute aqueous KSCN is occasionally used for moderately realistic blood effects in film and theater. It can be painted onto a surface or kept as a colorless solution. When in contact withferric chloridesolution (or other solutions containingFe3+), the product of the reaction is a solution with a blood red colour, due to the formation of thethiocyanatoironcomplex ion. Thus this chemical is often used to create the effect of 'stigmata'. Because both solutions are colorless, they can be placed separately on each hand. When the hands are brought into contact, the solutions react and the effect looks remarkably likestigmata.[citation needed]Similarly, this reaction is used as atestfor Fe3+in thelaboratory.Solubilityin water 177g/100 ml , 217 g/100 ml3.3.30 Potassium ThiocyanateNo human studies were available for review. In one subcutaneous injection study in male rats, increased thyroid neoplasms were observed (Kanno et al., 1990), though this route of administration is not relevant to the occupational setting. No other information as to the mutagenicity/carcinogenicity were identified in the literature. Inorganic thiocyanates (i.e., potassium thiocyanate) do not contain any structural alerts. Based on the limited data available, there is no indication that potassium thiocyanate is carcinogenic risk.