Barium cyanide

Barium cyanide
Names
	IUPAC name Barium dicyanide
Identifiers
CAS Number	542-62-1 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	10496;
ECHA InfoCard	100.008.021
EC Number	208-882-3;
PubChem CID	10961;
UNII	62X6NA0R43 ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID3023895 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/2CN.Ba/c21-2;/q2-1;+2 Key: UNLSXXHOHZUADN-UHFFFAOYSA-N; InChI=1/2CN.Ba/c21-2;/q2-1;+2 Key: UNLSXXHOHZUADN-UHFFFAOYAI;
	SMILES [Ba+2].[C-]#N.[C-]#N;
Properties
Chemical formula	Ba(CN)2
Molar mass	189.362 g/mol
Appearance	white crystalline powder
Melting point	600 °C (1,112 °F; 873 K)
Solubility in water	18 g/100 mL (14 °C)
Solubility	Soluble in ethanol
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
	Infobox references

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.^[1] It is a white crystalline salt.

Uses[]

Barium cyanide is used in electroplating and other metallurgical processes.

Reactions[]

Barium cyanide reacts with water and carbon dioxide in air slowly, producing highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas.^[2]

When barium cyanide is heated to 300° C with steam present, the nitrogen evolves to ammonia, leaving barium formate. The reaction is Ba(CN)2 + 4H2O = Ba(HCOO)2 + 2NH3.

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.^[3]

References[]

^ Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
^ Smith, R P; Gosselin, R E (1976). "Current Concepts about the Treatment of Selected Poisonings: Nitrite, Cyanide, Sulfide, Barium, and Quinidine". Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 16: 189–99. doi:10.1146/annurev.pa.16.040176.001201. PMID 779614.
^ "Barium Cyanide, Ba(CN)₂". Atomistry. Retrieved 2012-11-01.

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[1] Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.

[2] Smith, R P; Gosselin, R E (1976). "Current Concepts about the Treatment of Selected Poisonings: Nitrite, Cyanide, Sulfide, Barium, and Quinidine". Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 16: 189–99. doi:10.1146/annurev.pa.16.040176.001201. PMID 779614.

[3] "Barium Cyanide, Ba(CN)₂". Atomistry. Retrieved 2012-11-01.

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