Potassium cyanide

Potassium cyanide
Names
IUPAC name
Potassium cyanide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.005.267 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 205-792-3
RTECS number
  • TS8750000
UNII
UN number 1680
  • InChI=1S/CN.K/c1-2;/q-1;+1 checkY
    Key: NNFCIKHAZHQZJG-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/CN.K/c1-2;/q-1;+1
    Key: NNFCIKHAZHQZJG-UHFFFAOYAH
  • [K+].[C-]#N
Properties
KCN
Molar mass 65.12 g/mol
Appearance White crystalline solid
deliquescent
Odor faint, bitter almond-like
Density 1.52 g/cm3
Melting point 634.5 °C (1,174.1 °F; 907.6 K)
Boiling point 1,625 °C (2,957 °F; 1,898 K)
71.6 g/100 ml (25 °C)
100 g/100 ml (100 °C)
Solubility in methanol 4.91 g/100 ml (20 °C)
Solubility in glycerol soluble
Solubility in formamide 14.6 g/100 ml
Solubility in ethanol 0.57 g/100 ml
Solubility in hydroxylamine 41 g/100 ml
Acidity (pKa) 11.0
−37.0·10−6 cm3/mol
1.410
Thermochemistry
127.8 J K−1 mol−1
−131.5 kJ/mol
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS05: CorrosiveGHS06: ToxicGHS08: Health hazardGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
H290, H300, H310, H330, H370, H372, H410
P260, P264, P273, P280, P284, P301+P310
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 4: Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. E.g. VX gasFlammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
4
0
0
Flash point Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
5 mg/kg (oral, rabbit)
10 mg/kg (oral, rat)
5 mg/kg (oral, rat)
8.5 mg/kg (oral, mouse)[2]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 TWA 5 mg/m3[1]
REL (Recommended)
 C 5 mg/m3 (4.7 ppm) [10-minute][1]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 25 mg/m3[1]
Safety data sheet (SDS) ICSC 0671
Related compounds
Other anions
 Potassium cyanate
Potassium thiocyanate
Other cations
 Sodium cyanide
Rubidium cyanide
lithium cyanide
caesium cyanide
Related compounds
 Hydrogen cyanide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Potassium cyanide is a compound with the formula KCN. It is a colorless salt, similar in appearance to sugar, that is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications include jewellery for chemical gilding and buffing.[4] Potassium cyanide is highly toxic, and a dose of 200 to 300 milligrams will kill nearly any human.

The moist solid emits small amounts of hydrogen cyanide due to hydrolysis (reaction with water). Hydrogen cyanide is often described as having an odor resembling that of bitter almonds.[5][6]

The taste of potassium cyanide has been described as acrid and bitter, with a burning sensation[7][unreliable source?] similar to lye.[8]

  1. ^ a b c NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0522". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. ^ "Cyanides (as CN)". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  3. ^ "Potassium Cyanide | Cameo Chemicals | NOAA".
  4. ^ Andreas Rubo, Raf Kellens, Jay Reddy, Joshua Wooten, Wolfgang Hasenpusch "Alkali Metal Cyanides" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2006 Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany. doi:10.1002/14356007.i01_i01
  5. ^ "Suicide note reveals taste of cyanide". 8 July 2006.
  6. ^ Not everyone, however, can smell cyanide; the ability to do so is a genetic trait.Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM): 304300
  7. ^ ലേഖകൻ, മാധ്യമം (19 December 2021). "'സയനൈഡ് ചവർപ്പാണ്... പുകച്ചിലാണ്...'; ആ 'രുചി രഹസ്യം' പുറത്തുവിട്ട മലയാളി നടന്ന വഴിയിലൂടെ | Madhyamam". www.madhyamam.com (in Malayalam). Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  8. ^ "The only taste: Cyanide is acrid". hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times. 8 July 2006.