Barium cyanide

Deliquescent prismatic crystals

Fixed

Good in water ( 800 g · l-1 at 14 ° C )

Risk

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Barium cyanide is the barium salt of hydrocyanic acid.

Production

Barium cyanide can be prepared by passing hydrogen cyanide in aqueous barium hydroxide.

It can also be prepared by annealing of barium hydroxide and carbon in the air or in a nitrogen stream.

Properties

Barium cyanide is a hygroscopic compound and crystallizes as the dihydrate Ba ( CN) 2 · 2 H2O in the form of prismatic crystals that release their water of crystallization at 100 ° C. When heating Ba ( CN) 2 in water vapor flow produced barium hydroxide Ba ( OH) 2 under expulsion of ammonia NH3 and CO carbon monoxide.

By heating with magnesium powder under airtight Bariumcarbid arises.