Potassium hydrosulfide


Potassium hydrosulfide is an inorganic compound with the formula KSH. This colourless salt consists of the cation and the bisulfide anion. It is the product of the half-neutralization of hydrogen sulfide with potassium hydroxide. The compound has been used in the synthesis of organosulfur compounds. Aqueous solutions of potassium sulfide consist of a mixture of potassium hydrosulfide and potassium hydroxide.
file:Sodium-hydrosulfide-LT-xtal-1991-CM-3D-balls.png|thumb|left|194px|Atomic structure of crystalline KSH according to X-ray crystallography. Color code: violet = K, yellow = S, white = H.
The structure of the potassium hydrosulfide resembles that of potassium chloride. Their structure is however complicated by the non-spherical symmetry of the anions, but these tumble rapidly in the solid.
Potassium hydrosulfide reacts with elemental sulfur to gives polysulfide salts, such as dipotassium pentasulfide.

Synthesis

Potassium hydrosulfide is prepared by neutralizing aqueous KOH with [Hydrogen sulfide|].