Potassium cyanide: Difference between revisions
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== Potassium_cyanide == | |||
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File:Potassium-cyanide-phase-I-unit-cell-3D-SF.png|Potassium cyanide phase I unit cell 3D | |||
File:Kaliumcyanid.jpg|Kaliumcyanid | |||
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Latest revision as of 00:57, 17 March 2025
Potassium cyanide is a compound with the formula KCN. This colorless crystalline salt, similar in appearance to sugar, is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications include jewelry for chemical gilding and buffing.
Chemical properties[edit]
Potassium cyanide is a potent inhibitor of cellular respiration, acting on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, hence blocking oxidative phosphorylation. This prevents the body from using oxygen and causes death.
Production[edit]
Potassium cyanide is produced by treating hydrogen cyanide with a 50% aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, followed by evaporation of the solution in a vacuum:
HCN + KOH → KCN + H2O
About 50,000 tons of potassium cyanide are produced yearly.
Applications[edit]
Gold mining[edit]
In gold mining, KCN forms the water-soluble salt gold cyanide along with sodium cyanide (NaCN). The gold can then be removed from the solution with a zinc electrode.
Organic synthesis[edit]
KCN is used as a nucleophile in the manufacture of nitriles.
Electroplating[edit]
KCN is used in electroplating and as a polishing agent in the preparation of metallic surfaces.
Toxicity[edit]
Potassium cyanide is highly toxic. The moist solid emits small amounts of hydrogen cyanide due to hydrolysis, which smells like bitter almonds. Not everyone, however, can smell this odor: the ability to do so is a genetic trait.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
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