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
Hazards
	GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H300, H310, H330, H410
Precautionary statements	P260, P262, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P284, P301+P316, P302+P352, P304+P340, P316, P320, P321, P330, P361+P364, P391, P403+P233, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	3 0 0
	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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[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.