Difference between revisions of "Potassium cyanide"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
White, deliquescent powder with the faint odor of bitter almonds. Potassium cyanide is used to extract [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=gold gold] and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=silver silver ]from ores. It has also been used as an [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=insecticide insecticide] and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=fumigant fumigant]. Many old recipes also used potassium cyanide to clean tarnish from silver.
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White, deliquescent powder with the faint odor of bitter almonds. Potassium cyanide is used to extract [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=gold gold] and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=silver%20 silver ]from ores. It has also been used as an [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=insecticide insecticide] and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=fumigant fumigant]. Many old recipes also used potassium cyanide to clean tarnish from silver.
  
 
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|potassium cyanide.jpg~Chemical structure]]]
 
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|potassium cyanide.jpg~Chemical structure]]]
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== Authority ==
 
== Authority ==
  
* G.S.Brady, G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: p. 632
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* G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: p. 632
  
* Richard S. Lewis, Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
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* Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  
* Michael McCann, Michael McCann, ''Artist Beware'', Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
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* Michael McCann, ''Artist Beware'', Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
  
* George Savage, George Savage, ''Art and Antique Restorer's Handbook'', Rockliff Publishing Corp, London, 1954
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* George Savage, ''Art and Antique Restorer's Handbook'', Rockliff Publishing Corp, London, 1954
  
 
* ''The Merck Index'', Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983  Comment: entry 7789
 
* ''The Merck Index'', Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983  Comment: entry 7789

Revision as of 06:25, 24 July 2013

Description

White, deliquescent powder with the faint odor of bitter almonds. Potassium cyanide is used to extract gold and silver from ores. It has also been used as an insecticide and fumigant. Many old recipes also used potassium cyanide to clean tarnish from silver.

Chemical structure

Potassium cyanide.jpg


Other Properties

Soluble in water, ethanol, glycerol.

Composition KCN
CAS 151-50-8
Melting Point 634
Density 1.52
Molecular Weight mol. wt. = 65.12
Refractive Index 1.410

Hazards and Safety

Extremely TOXIC by ingestion, inhalation and absorption through skin.

Mallinckrodt Baker: MSDS

Additional Information

D. Strahan "Treatment of a Silver Dragon for the Removal of Silver Cyanide and Chalconatronite" JAIC, 25: 73-81, 1986.

Authority

  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 632
  • Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  • Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
  • George Savage, Art and Antique Restorer's Handbook, Rockliff Publishing Corp, London, 1954
  • The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 7789
  • CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: ref. index=1.410

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