Dichromates


Dichromates

 

(also bichromates), salts of dichromic acid, H2Cr2O7—for example, K2Cr2O7. Most dichromates are orange-red. Usually they are more soluble than the corresponding chromates (salts of chromic acid, H2CrO4). Like chromates, dichromates are strong oxidizing agents in acid solution (hexavalent Cr is reduced to the trivalent state—for example, K2Cr2O7 + 14HCl = 2KC1 + 2CrCl3 + 3C12 + 7H2O). A mixture of equal parts of a cold saturated solution of K2Cr2O7 and concentrated H2SO4 (chromic mixture) has a very strong oxidizing action; it is used in the laboratory for cleaning chemical dishware.