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. It is a white crystalline salt.
Uses Barium cyanide is used in electroplating and other metallurgical processes.
Preparation Barium cyanide is prepared by reacting barium hydroxide with hydrocyanic acid: Ba(OH)2 + 2HCN → Ba(CN)2 +2H2O The product is crystallized from the solution.
Reactions Barium cyanide reacts with water and carbon dioxide in air slowly, producing highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas.
When barium cyanide is heated to 300°C with steam present, the nitrogen evolves to ammonia, leaving barium formate. 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.
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