151-50-8

White amorphous lumps or a crystalline mass with a faint odor of bitter almonds. Density 1.52 g/cm3 Toxic by skin absorption through open wounds, by ingestion. Heating to decomposition produces toxic fumes. Used for gold and silver extraction, in chemical analysis, to make other chemicals, and as an insecticide.

POTASSIUM CYANIDE(151-50-8) is a basic salt and a reducing agent. Reacts with acids of all kinds to generate poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas. Can react violently with oxidizing agents: fusion with metal chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates, or nitrites can cause explosions [Bretherick 1979. p. 101]. A mixture with perchloryl fluoride may explode above 100°C. A mixture with nitrite salts may cause an explosion [Pieters 1957. p. 30]. Incompatible with iodine. Initiates the explosive decomposition of nitrogen trichloride.

Deliquescent. Soluble in water. Dissolution releases some poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas. The amount is not hazardous except in an enclosed space. If the water is acidic, dangerous amounts of hydrogen cyanide form at once.

A poison as absorbed by skin.

Potassium cyanide is a white solid or colorless water solution with a faint bitter almond odor. As a solution, it is slightly soluble in ethanol. It is a poison that reacts with acid or acid fumes to emit deadly hydrogen cyanide. When heated to decomposition, it emits very toxic fumes. As a solid, potassium cyanide is incompatible with nitrogen trichloride, perchloryl fl uoride, sodium nitrite, acids, alkaloids, chloral hydrate, and iodine. A synonym for potassium cyanide is potassium salt of hydrocyanic acid

POTASSIUM CYANIDE is classified as super toxic. Probable oral lethal dose in humans is less than 5 mg/kg or less than a taste (7 drops) for a 150 lb. person. It is an eye and skin irritant. Poisonous in very small quantities; a taste is lethal.

Used in electroplating, steel hardening; extraction of precious metals form ores; as a fumigant; in insecticides; a reagent in analytical chemistry

Contact with acid releases highly flammable hydrogen cyanide gas. Moisture may cause this material to volatilize as hydrogen cyanide. When heated to decomposition, POTASSIUM CYANIDE emits very toxic fumes of cyanide and nitrogen oxides. Reacts with acids to produce hydrogen cyanide gas. Reacts with strong oxidizers such as nitrates and chlorates, nitrogen trichloride; perchloryl fluoride; sodium nitrate; acids; alkaloids; chloral hydrate; iodine. Avoid contact with acids.

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Speed in removing material from skin is of extreme importance. Shampoo hair promptly if contaminated. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit. Keep under observation for 24
48 hours as symptoms may return. Use amyl nitrate capsules if symptoms develop. All area employees should be trained regularly in emergency measures for cyanide poisoning and in CPR. A cyanide antidote kit should be kept in the immediate work area and must be rapidly available. Kit ingredients should be replaced every 1
2 years to ensure freshness. Persons trained in the use of this kit; oxygen use, and CPR must be quickly available.

UN1680 Potassium cyanide, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.

A strong reducing agent; keep away from oxidizers. Potassium cyanide decomposes on contact with water, humidity, carbon dioxide, strong acids (such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids), and acid salts, producing highly toxic and highly flammable hydrogen cyanide gas. Potassium cyanide absorbs water from air (is hygroscopic or deliquescent); the aqueous solution is a strong base. Incompatible with organic anhydrides; isocyanates, alkylene oxides; epichlorohydrin, aldehydes, alcohols, glycols, phenols, cresols, caprolactum, strong oxidizers; nitrogen trichloride; sodium chlorate. Attacks aluminum, copper, zinc in the presence of moisture.

KCN is a white solid or colourless water solution with a faint bitter almond odour. As a solution, it is slightly soluble in ethanol. It is a poison that reacts with acid or acid fumes to emit deadly HCN. When heated to decomposition, it emits very toxic fumes. As a solid, KCN is incompatible with nitrogen trichloride, perchloryl fluoride, sodium nitrite, acids, alkaloids, chloral hydrate, and iodine. A synonym for KCN is potassium salt of hydrocyanic acid.

Potassium cyanide are white lumps, granular powder, or colorless solution. It may be shipped as capsules, tablets, or pellets. Toxic hydrogen cyanide gas released by potassium cyanide has a distinctive, weak bitter almond odor, but many people cannot detect it; the odor does not provide adequate warning of hazardous concentrations.

Consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Generators of waste containing this contaminant (≥100 kg/mo) must conform with EPA regulations governing storage, transportation, treatment, and waste disposal. In accordance with 40CFR165, follow recommendations for the disposal of pesticides and pesticide containers. Must be disposed properly by following package label directions or by contacting your local or federal environmental control agency, or by contacting your regional EPA office. Add strong alkaline hypochlorite and react for 24 hours. Then flush to sewer with large volumes of water.

ChEBI: Potassium cyanide is a cyanide salt containing equal numbers of potassium cations and cyanide anions. It has a role as an EC 1.9.3.1 (cytochrome c oxidase) inhibitor, an EC 1.15.1.1 (superoxide dismutase) inhibitor and a neurotoxin. It is a cyanide salt, a one-carbon compound and a potassium salt.

Potassium cyanide was made by the Beilby process before the introduction of the neutralization or wet process. When made by the neutralization or wet process, it contains 99% KCN. Initially, potassium cyanide was used as a flux and later for electroplating, which was the single largest use in the 1990s. The demand for potassium cyanide was met by the ferrocyanide process until the latter part of the nineteenth century when the extraordinary demands of the gold mining industry for alkali cyanide resulted in the development of direct synthesis processes. When cheaper sodium cyanide became available, potassium cyanide was displaced in many uses.

Nonflammable

A white amorphous or crystalline solid of the composition KCN, potassium cyanide is employed for carbonizing steel for case hardening and for electroplating. For cyaniding steel the latter is immersed in a bath of molten cyanide and then quenched in water, or the cyanide is rubbed on the red-hot steel.
Commercial potassium cyanide is likely to contain a proportion of sodium cyanide. Potassium ferrocyanide, or yellow prussiate of potash, can also be used for case-hardening steel. It has the compositionK₄Fe(CN)₆and comes in yellow crystals or powder. The nitrogen as well as the carbon enters the steel to form the hard case. Potassium ferricyanide, or red prussiate of potash, is a bright-red granular powder of the composition K₃Fe(CN)₆, used in photographic reducing solutions, in etching solutions, in blueprint paper, and in silvering mirrors. Redsol crystals is the name of this chemical for use as a reducer and mild oxidizing agent, or toner, for photography.

A saturated solution in H2O-ethanol (1:3) at 60o is filtered and cooled to room temperature. Absolute EtOH is added, with stirring, until crystallisation ceases. The solution is again allowed to cool to room temperature (during 2-3hours), then the crystals are filtered off, washed with absolute EtOH, and dried, first at 70-80o for 2-3hours, then at 105o for 2hours [Brown et al. J Phys Chem 66 2426 1962]. It has also been purified by melting in a vacuum and by zone refining. HIGHLY POISONOUS.