Mercury(II) cyanide

Mercuric

Colorless solid

Fixed

4.0 g · cm -3

320 ° C (decomposes into mercury, cyanide and cyanogen )

Soluble in water

Risk

0.1 mg · m-3

26 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

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Mercury (II ) cyanide is a chemical compound with the formula Hg (CN ) 2

Representation

Mercury (II ) cyanide is formed when dissolving mercury (II ) oxide in hydrocyanic acid, by boiling mercuric oxide with Prussian blue or of sulphate of mercury with potassium ferrocyanide.

Classification

• UN number: 1636

Properties

Mercury (II ) cyanide forms colorless, odorless crystals that dissolve in water and some polar organic solvents. Of interest is the extremely low dissociation into mercury (II ) - and cyanide ions in aqueous solution. The compound is very toxic.

Use

Mercuric cyanide is used in homeopathic remedies for treatment of diphtheria, severe angina and colds.

It continued to play in the discovery of palladium a role.

Safety

Mercuric cyanide is highly toxic. The compound, in view of the Hg2 ion much more dangerous than other cyanides. It burdens the organism simultaneously with mercury ions and cyanide ions. It must be kept away from all acids in tightly sealed containers since otherwise the highly toxic hydrogen cyanide is formed.