4516. Gold Monocyanide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 506-65-0
Aurous cyanide; gold cyanide.
CAuN; mol wt 222.98.
C 5.39%, Au 88.33%, N 6.28%.
AuCN.

Description and references

May be prepd by decompn of Na[Au(CN)2] with HCl: Wogrinz, Metalloberflaeche 8, B162 (1954).

Properties

Yellow, odorless powder; iridescent in sunlight; slowly dec in presence of moisture. When warmed with HCl, HCN is evolved. When ignited, dec into metal Au and CN. d420 7.14. Hexagonal when cryst. Practically insol in water, alcohol, ether, dil acids; sol in ammonia, soln of NaCN; dissolved by aqua regia. On warming with concd H2SO4 half of the gold separates as metal.

Caution

May liberate HCN.