2661. Cuprous Cyanide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 544-92-3
Cupricin.
CCuN; mol wt 89.56.
C 13.41%, Cu 70.95%, N 15.64%.
CuCN.

Description and references

Commercial prepns: Winter et al., Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 6 (Interscience, New York, 2nd ed., 1965) p 271; laboratory prepns: Barber, J. Chem. Soc. 1943, 79; Norberg, Jacobson, Acta Chem. Scand. 3, 174 (1949); Vaughan, McCane, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 76, 2504 (1954). Review of toxicology and human exposure: Toxicological Profile for Cyanide (PB98-101207, 1997) 291 pp.

Properties

White to cream-colored powder, colorless or dark green orthorhombic crystals, or dark red monoclinic crystals. Poisonous. mp 474°. Practically insol in water, alcohol, cold dil acids. Sol in NH4OH; dec by HNO3, boiling dil HCl. Sol in alkali cyanide solns because of formation of stable cyanocuprate(I) ions.

Use

In electroplating Cu or Fe; as insecticide, fungicide; as antifouling agent in marine paints; as polymerization catalyst.