Potassium Dichromate, K2Cr2O7
Preparation
It is prepared from the ore called chromate or ferrochrome or chrome iron, FeO.Cr2O3. The various steps involved are
(a) Preparation of sodium chromate
(b) Conversion of sodium chromate into sodium dichromate.
(c) Conversion of sodium dichromate into potassium dichromate.
Properties
It forms orange red crystals. It is moderately soluble in cold water but freely soluble in hot water.
1. Action of heat
When heated, it decomposed to its chromate
2. Action of alkalis
With alkalis it is converted into chromate which on acidifying gives back dichromate.
In dichromate solution the 
ions are in equilibrium with 
ions at pH = 4.
3. Action of conc. H2SO4 solution
(a) In cold conditions
(b) In hot conditions
4. Oxidising properties
It is a powerful oxidising agent. In the presence of dil. H2SO4 it furnishes 3 atoms of available oxygen.
Some of the oxidizing properties of K2Cr2O7 are
(a) It liberates I2 from KI
(b) It oxidises ferrous salts to ferric salts
(c) It oxidises S2 to S
(d) It oxidises nitrites to nitrates
(e) It oxidises SO2 to 
(f) It oxidises ethyl alcohol to acetaldehyde and acetic acid.
5. Chromyl chloride test
When heated with conc. HCl or with a chloride in the presence of sulphuric acid, reddish brown vapours of chromyl chloride are obtained.
Thus reaction is used in the detection of chloride ions in qualitative analysis.
Uses
1. In volumetric analysis for the estimation of Fe2+ and I–.
2. In chrome tanning in leather industry.
3. In photography and in hardening gelatin film.
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Class 12 Chemistry d and f Block Elements All Topic Notes Class 12 Chemistry All Chapters Notes
