Barium cyanide

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title: "Barium cyanide" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["barium-compounds", "cyanides"] topic_path: "general/barium-compounds" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barium_cyanide" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

| ImageFile = Barium cyanide structure.svg | ImageSize = 200px | IUPACName = Barium dicyanide | OtherNames = | Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers | CASNo = 542-62-1 | CASNo_Ref = | UNII_Ref = | UNII = 62X6NA0R43 | PubChem = 10961 | ChemSpiderID = 10496 | SMILES = [Ba+2].[C-]#N.[C-]#N | InChI = 1/2CN.Ba/c21-2;/q2-1;+2 | InChIKey = UNLSXXHOHZUADN-UHFFFAOYAI | StdInChI = 1S/2CN.Ba/c21-2;/q2-1;+2 | StdInChIKey = UNLSXXHOHZUADN-UHFFFAOYSA-N | EINECS = 208-882-3 | Section2 = {{Chembox Properties | Formula = Ba(CN)2 | MolarMass = 189.362 g/mol | Appearance = white crystalline powder | Density = | MeltingPtC = 600 | BoilingPt = | Solubility = 80 g/100 mL (14 °C) | SolubleOther = Soluble in ethanol | VaporPressure = 740 mmHg | Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards | MainHazards = | NFPA-H = 3 | NFPA-F = 0 | NFPA-I = 0 | NFPA-S = | ExternalSDS = | GHSPictograms =
| GHSSignalWord = DANGER | HPhrases = | PPhrases = | FlashPt = | AutoignitionPt = | ExploLimits = | LD50 = | PEL =

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.

References

References

  1. {{Greenwood&Earnshaw
  2. (1976). "Current Concepts about the Treatment of Selected Poisonings: Nitrite, Cyanide, Sulfide, Barium, and Quinidine". Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
  3. "Barium Cyanide – a Chemical Compound".
  4. "Barium Cyanide, Ba(CN)2". Atomistry.

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barium-compoundscyanides