Nomenclature
CAS number: 151-50-8
Potassium cyanide (K(CN)).
CKN; mol wt 65.12.
C 18.44%, K 60.04%, N 21.51%.
KCN.
Description and references
Article of commerce contains about 95% KCN.
Toxicity study: Hayes, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 11, 327 (1967). Review of toxicology and human exposure:
Toxicological Profile for Cyanide (PB98-101207, 1997) 291 pp.
Properties
White, deliquesc, granular powder or fused pieces;
odor of HCN. Poisonous. On exposure
to air it is gradually dec by CO2 and moisture. d 1.52; mp 634°. Sol in 2 parts cold, 1
part boiling water, 2 parts glycerol, 100 parts alcohol, 25 parts
methanol. The aq soln is strongly alkaline and rapidly dec. pH of
0.1N aq soln: 11.0. Keep tightly
closed and protected from light. LD50 orally in rats: 10 mg/kg (Hayes).Caution
Potential symptoms of overexposure
are irritation of eyes, skin and upper respiratory system; weakness,
headache and confusion; nausea, vomiting; increased rate of respiration;
slow gasping respiration; asphyxia; thyroid and blood changes. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical
Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 262.Use
Extracting gold and silver from ores; electroplating
baths; silver plating; case hardening steel by liquid nitriding.
Complexing agent in alkaline solutions.