Magnesium cyanide

Magnesium cyanide
Names
Other names
  • Magnesium dicyanide
  • Magnesium(II) cyanide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
  • InChI=1S/2CN.Mg/c2*1-2;/q2*-1;+2
    Key: FKWSMBAMOQCVPV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [C-]#N.[C-]#N.[Mg+2]
Properties
Mg(CN)2
Molar mass 76.34 g/mol
Appearance White solid
Melting point 500 °C (932 °F; 773 K) (decomposes)
Reacts to form magnesium hydroxide
Solubility in ammonia Slightly soluble
Related compounds
Other anions
 Magnesium thiocyanate
Other cations
 Calcium cyanide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Magnesium cyanide is a chemical compound with the formula Mg(CN)2. It is a toxic white solid. Unlike calcium isocyanide, the cyanide ligands prefer to coordinate at carbon, with a 0.3‑kcal/mol isomerization barrier.[1] When this salt is heated to 500 °C, it decomposes to magnesium nitride.[2]

  1. ^ Kapp, Jürgen; Schleyer, Paul v. R. (1996). "M(CN)2 Species (M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba): Cyanides, Nitriles, or Neither?". Inorg. Chem. 35 (8). ACS Publications: 2247–2252. doi:10.1021/ic9511837. PMID 11666420.
  2. ^ Fr. Fichter; Richard Suter (1924). "Über Magnesiumcyanid". Helvetica (in German). 5 (3). Wiley: 396–400. doi:10.1002/hlca.19220050311.