Sodium cyanide

Properties

General
Name	Sodium cyanide
Chemical Formula	NaCN
Appearance	White deliquescent granular solid
Atomic
Molecular weigth	49.01 amu
Physical
State of matter at STP	solid (nonmagnetic)
Melting point at SP	837 K
Boiling point at SP	1769 K
Specific gravity	1.60
Chemical
pH	Aqueous solutions are strongly alkaline
Precautions
Toxic	YES
Decompostion products	Emits toxic fumes of cyanide and oxides of nitrogen when heated to decomposition.
SI units were used where possible.

Sodium cyanide is a highly toxic chemical compound, also known as sodium salt of hydrocyanic acid and cyanogran. Immediate medical attention is required in the event of cyanide poisoning, as it is quickly fatal.

Sodium cyanide is used to extract gold and other precious metals from ore, and so metal mining operations consume most of the sodium cyanide production; see cyanide process for the use in gold mining. Accidents with cyanide solutions are a severe danger to aquatic ecosystems.

See also

• Summitville mine
• Potassium cyanide

External link

• Sodium cyanide hazards to fish and other wildlife from gold