Potassium cyanide . The cyanide of potassium or KCN is known an inorganic salt potassium salt of cyanide hydrogen or hydrocyanic acid.
Summary
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- 1 Features
- 2 Main physical and chemical properties
- 3 Method of Obtaining
- 4 Applications
- 5 Measures to Measures to take in case of spills and / or leaks
- 6 Health risks
- 7 Source
characteristics
Potassium Cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula KCN. This colorless crystalline compound, similar in appearance to sugar, is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications include jewelry for chemical gilding and polishing.
Said compound is colorless crystalline, similar in appearance to sugar, and highly soluble in water , in acids and bases, it is insoluble in ethanol or methanol .
Fatally toxic by ingestion, KCN has a bitter almond odor, but not everyone can perceive it because the ability to do so is due to a genetic trait. It is one of the few substances that form soluble compounds with gold forming a cyanide complex, and for this reason it is used in jewelry for chemical gilding and to give shine to this metal.
Main physical and chemical properties
Potassium Cyanide Binding
- Chemical formula:KCN
- Chemical name:Potassium cyanide
- Appearance and color:Solid crystals or in various forms.
- Characteristic odor.
- Molecular Weight:1
- Boiling point:1625 o C
- Melting point:634 o C
- Molecular Weight:1
- Relative density (water = 1):52
- Solubility in water:60 g / 100 ml at 25 oC
Obtaining method
KCN is produced by treating hydrogen cyanide with a 50% aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide , followed by evaporation of the solution in vacuo:
HCN + KOH? KCN + H2O or by treating formamide with potassium hydroxide:
HCONH2 + KOH? KCN + 2H2O
About 50,000 tons of potassium cyanide are produced annually.
Applications
KCN and its close relationship sodium cyanide are widely used in organic synthesis for the preparation of nitriles and carboxylic acids , particularly in the von Richter reaction.
It is often used by entomologists as an agent to kill insects in preservation jars, as most insects succumb within seconds, minimizing damage to even the most fragile classes.
It can be used in gold mining to extract metal from minerals, although sodium cyanide is most commonly used . It is also used in electroplating as a complexing agent for metal ions such as zinc , nickel , gold and silver .
Measures to Measures to be taken in case of spills and / or leaks
- Personal precautions:Full protective suit including self-contained breathing apparatus.
- Environmental precautions:Do not pour into the sewer. This substance can be dangerous for the environment, special attention should be paid to water.
- Cleaning methods:Evacuate the danger zone. Consult an expert, ventilation. Sweep up the spilled substance and place it in an airtight container, then transfer to a safe place. NEVER put in direct contact with water.
Health risks
- Contact can cause severe irritation and burns to the skinand eyes with the possibility of eye damage.
- Breathing potassium cyanide can irritate the nose, throat, and lungs , causing sneezing and coughing.
- High exposure can cause headache, confusion, dizziness, anxiety, pounding heartbeat, and even loss of consciousness and death.
- Exposure to potassium cyanide can cause nosebleed, nose injury, and blood count changes.
- Potassium cyanide can cause an enlarged thyroidand interfere with normal thyroid function.
- Repeated exposure could damage the nervous system.
