sodium cyanide

n. An extremely poisonous white crystalline compound, NaCN, used in extracting gold and silver from ores, in electroplating baths, and in dye manufacture.

sodium cyanide

n (Elements & Compounds) a white odourless crystalline soluble poisonous compound with an odour of hydrogen cyanide when damp. It is used for extracting gold and silver from their ores and for case-hardening steel. Formula: NaCN

so′dium cy′anide

n. a white, crystalline, water-soluble, poisonous powder, NaCN, used chiefly in casehardening alloys, in the leaching and flotation of ore, and in electroplating. [1880–85]

Thesaurus

Noun

sodium cyanide - a white poisonous salt (NaCN) used in electroplatingcyanide - an extremely poisonous salt of hydrocyanic acid

Sodium Cyanide

sodium cyanide

[′sōd·ē·əm ′sī·ə‚nīd] (inorganic chemistry) NaCN A poisonous, water-soluble, white powder melting at 563°C; decomposes rapidly when standing; used to manufacture pigments, in heat treatment of metals, and as a silver- and gold-ore extractant.

Sodium Cyanide

NaCN, a colorless hygroscopic crystalline compound, with a melting point of 564°C and density of 1.5955 g/cm³ (at 20°C). Sodium cyanide crystallizes in the form of NaCN·2H₂O, but above 34.7°C, it crystallizes in anhydrous form. It is readily soluble in water and forms a 32.4 percent solution at 10°C and a 45.0-percent solution at 35°C. It hydrolyzes in aqueous solutions:

NaCN + H₂O ⇆ HCN + NaOH

Like KCN, it readily forms complexes.

In industry, sodium cyanide is produced mainly by the neutralization of hydrocyanic acid by sodium hydroxide, NaOH. (For information on the uses of sodium cyanide, see.) Sodium cyanide is extremely toxic. (For information on its effects on the organism and on safety measures for its handling, seeHYDROCYANIC ACID.)

REFERENCES

See references under .

sodium cyanide

sodium cyanide

sodium cyanide

so′dium cy′anide

Sodium Cyanide

sodium cyanide

Sodium Cyanide

REFERENCES

sodium cyanide

Words related to sodium cyanide

noun a white poisonous salt (NaCN) used in electroplating

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