Barium cyanide
{{Chembox
| ImageFile = Barium cyanide structure.svg
| ImageSize = 200px
| IUPACName = Barium dicyanide
| OtherNames =
| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
| CASNo = 542-62-1
| CASNo_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}
| UNII_Ref = {{fdacite|correct|FDA}}
| UNII = 62X6NA0R43
| PubChem = 10961
| ChemSpiderID = 10496
| SMILES = [Ba+2].[C-]#N.[C-]#N
| InChI = 1/2CN.Ba/c2*1-2;/q2*-1;+2
| InChIKey = UNLSXXHOHZUADN-UHFFFAOYAI
| StdInChI = 1S/2CN.Ba/c2*1-2;/q2*-1;+2
| StdInChIKey = UNLSXXHOHZUADN-UHFFFAOYSA-N
| EINECS = 208-882-3
}}
| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
| Formula = Ba(CN)2
| MolarMass = 189.362 g/mol
| Appearance = white crystalline powder
| Density =
| MeltingPtC = 600
| BoilingPt =
| Solubility = 80 g/100 mL (14 °C)
| SolubleOther = Soluble in ethanol
| VaporPressure = 740 mmHg
}}
| Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards
| MainHazards =
| NFPA-H = 3
| NFPA-F = 0
| NFPA-I = 0
| NFPA-S =
| ExternalSDS =
| GHSPictograms = {{GHS06}} {{GHS09}}
| GHSSignalWord = DANGER
| HPhrases = {{H-phrases|300|310|330|410}}
| PPhrases = {{P-phrases|260|262|264|270|271|273|280|284|301+316|302+352|304+340|316|320|321|330|361+364|391|403+233|405|501}}
| FlashPt =
| AutoignitionPt =
| ExploLimits =
| LD50 =
| PEL =
}}
}}
Barium cyanide is a chemical compound with the formula Ba(CN)2. It is synthesized by the reaction of hydrogen cyanide and barium hydroxide in water or petroleum ether.{{Greenwood&Earnshaw}} It is a white crystalline salt.
Uses
Barium cyanide is used in electroplating and other metallurgical processes.
Preparation
Barium cyanide is prepared by reacting barium hydroxide with hydrocyanic acid:
:Ba(OH)2 + 2HCN → Ba(CN)2 +2H2O
The product is crystallized from the solution.
Reactions
Barium cyanide reacts with water and carbon dioxide in air slowly, producing highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas.{{cite journal|doi=10.1146/annurev.pa.16.040176.001201|title=Current Concepts about the Treatment of Selected Poisonings: Nitrite, Cyanide, Sulfide, Barium, and Quinidine|year=1976|last1=Smith|first1=R P|last2=Gosselin|first2=R E|journal=Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology|volume=16|pages=189–99|pmid=779614}}
When barium cyanide is heated to 300°C with steam present, the nitrogen evolves to ammonia, leaving barium formate.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
:Ba(CN)2 + 4 H2O = Ba(HCOO)2 + 2 NH3
Aqueous solutions of barium cyanide dissolve insoluble cyanides of some of the heavy metals forming crystalline double salts. For example, BaHg(CN)4.3H2O in needles, 2Ba(CN)2.3Hg(CN)2.23H2O in transparent octahedra, and Ba(CN)2.Hg(CN)2.HgI2.6H2O.{{cite web|url=http://barium.atomistry.com/barium_cyanide.html |title=Barium Cyanide, Ba(CN)2 |publisher= Atomistry |date= |accessdate=2012-11-01}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cyanides}}
{{Barium compounds}}
{{Inorganic-compound-stub}}