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==Production and chemical properties==
==Production and chemical properties==
Sodium cyanide is produced by treating [[hydrogen cyanide]] with [[sodium hydroxide]]:<ref name=Ullmann>Andreas Rubo, Raf Kellens, Jay Reddy, Norbert Steier, Wolfgang Hasenpusch "Alkali Metal Cyanides" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2006 Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany.ISBN 10.1002/14356007.i01 i01</ref>
Sodium cyanide is produced by treating [[hydrogen cyanide]] with [[sodium hydroxide]]:<ref name=Ullmann>Andreas Rubo, Raf Kellens, Jay Reddy, Norbert Steier, Wolfgang Hasenpusch "Alkali Metal Cyanides" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2006 Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany. {{DOI|10.1002/14356007.i01_i01}}</ref>
:HCN + NaOH → NaCN + H<sub>2</sub>O
:HCN + NaOH → NaCN + H<sub>2</sub>O
Worldwide production was estimated at 500,000 tons in the year 2006. In former times, it was prepared by the [[Castner-Kellner process]] involving the reaction of [[sodium amide]] with carbon at elevated temperatures.
Worldwide production was estimated at 500,000 tons in the year 2006. In former times, it was prepared by the [[Castner-Kellner process]] involving the reaction of [[sodium amide]] with carbon at elevated temperatures.

Revision as of 16:03, 21 July 2010

Sodium cyanide
Identifiers
ECHA InfoCard 100.005.091 Edit this at Wikidata
RTECS number
  • VZ7525000
UN number 1689
Properties
NaCN
Molar mass 49.0072 g/mol
Appearance white solid
Density 1.595 g/cm3
Melting point 563.7 °C
Boiling point 1496 °C
58 g/100 ml (20 °C) (hydrate solubility), 82 g/100 ml (34.7 °C)
1.45
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g. chlorine 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
3
0
0
Flash point Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
5.8–15 mg/kg (oral in rats, mice)[1]
Related compounds
Other cations
 Potassium cyanide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Sodium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula NaCN. This highly toxic colourless salt is used mainly in gold mining but has other niche applications. It is an inorganic salt derived from neutralisation reactions involving the weak acid hydrogen cyanide.

Production and chemical properties

Sodium cyanide is produced by treating hydrogen cyanide with sodium hydroxide:[3]

HCN + NaOH → NaCN + H2O

Worldwide production was estimated at 500,000 tons in the year 2006. In former times, it was prepared by the Castner-Kellner process involving the reaction of sodium amide with carbon at elevated temperatures.

NaNH2 + C → NaCN + H2

The structure of solid NaCN is related to that of sodium chloride.[4] The anions and cations are each six-coordinate (KCN has a similar structure). Each Na+ forms pi-bonds to two CN- groups as well as two "bent" K---CN and two "bent "K---NC links.[5]

Because the salt is derived from a weak acid, NaCN readily reverts back to HCN by hydrolysis: the moist solid emits small amounts of hydrogen cyanide, which smells like bitter almonds (not everyone can smell it—the ability thereof is due to a genetic trait[6]). Sodium cyanide reacts rapidly with strong acids to release hydrogen cyanide. This dangerous process represents a significant risk associated with cyanide salts. It is detoxified most efficiently with hydrogen peroxide:[3]

NaCN + H2O2 → NaOCN + H2O

Applications

Cyanide mining

Further information: cyanide process

Sodium cyanide is mainly used to extract gold and other precious metals in mining. This application exploits the high affinity of gold(I) for cyanide, which induces gold metal to oxidize and dissolve in the presence of air and water.

4 Au + 8 NaCN + O2 + 2 H2O → 4 Na[Au(CN)2] + 4 NaOH

Few alternative methods exist for this extraction process.

Chemical feedstock

Several commercially significant chemical compounds are derived from cyanide, including cyanuric chloride, cyanogen chloride, and many nitriles. In organic synthesis, cyanide, which is classified as a strong nucleophile, is used to prepare nitriles, which occur widely in many specialty chemicals, including pharmaceuticals.

Niche uses

Being highly toxic, sodium cyanide is used to kill or stun rapidly such as in illegal cyanide fishing and in collecting jars used by entomologists.

Toxicity

Main article: Cyanide poisoning

Cyanide salts are among the most rapidly acting of all known poisons. Cyanide is a potent inhibitor of respiration, acting on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase and hence blocking electron transport. This results in decreased oxidative metabolism and oxygen utilization. Lactic acidosis then occurs as a consequence of anaerobic metabolism.

References

  1. ^ Martel, B.; Cassidy, K. (2004). Chemical Risk Analysis: A Practical Handbook. Butterworth–Heinemann. p. 361. ISBN 1903996651.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Oxford MSDS
  3. ^ a b Andreas Rubo, Raf Kellens, Jay Reddy, Norbert Steier, Wolfgang Hasenpusch "Alkali Metal Cyanides" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2006 Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany. doi:10.1002/14356007.i01_i01
  4. ^ Wells, A.F. (1984) Structural Inorganic Chemistry, Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-855370-6.
  5. ^ H. T. Stokes, D. L. Decker, H. M. Nelson, J. D. Jorgensen (1993). "Structure of potassium cyanide at low temperature and high pressure determined by neutron diffraction". Phys. Rev. B. 47 (17): 11082–11092. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.47.11082.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM): 304300

See also

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