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All compounds containing the monovalent CN combining group are called cyanides. The cyanide group can be found as a negatively charged cyanide ion in inorganic cyanides such as sodium cyanide (NaCN). It is believed that the chemicals, known as hydrocyanic acid salts, are extremely hazardous. Nitriles, which include organic cyanides, are commonly referred to as CN. In methyl cyanide, a covalent link connects the group to the carbon-containing group (CH3) (otherwise called acetonitrile).
Structure of cyanide
Any compound with the monovalent combining group CN is considered cyanide by definition. The cyanide ion is the cyanide group in inorganic cyanides, such as sodium cyanide (NaCN). It is believed that the compounds, known as hydrocyanic acid salts, are extremely toxic. Nitriles, which include organic cyanides, are commonly referred to as C.N. In methyl cyanide, for example, the covalent bond connects the group to the carbon-containing group, such as methyl (CH3) (otherwise called acetonitrile).
The C-N group is found in the structure of cyanide molecules. The Cyano group consists of three atoms, each of which is triple-bonded to a nitrogen molecule. Inorganic cyanides contain the cyanide ion as the anion CN. People and other animals are especially vulnerable to the effects of soluble salts, such as sodium and potassium cyanide. Cyanide’s ion formula is CN-
Properties of Cyanide
It is a white-coloured material that can be found in crystals or powder form. Whenever it is found in its watery state, it possesses a sour almond-like aroma. Cyanide’s chemical formula is CN, and hydrogen cyanide’s chemical formula is HCN. There are 27.0253 grammes of hydrogen cyanide per mole, and its density is 0.6876 grams per cubic centimetre. The melting point is -13.4°C and the boiling point is 25.6°C. It is solid at room temperature.
Formation of Cyanide
Naturally
Cyanide can be produced by some fungi, bacteria, and algae, as well as other organisms. Several more plants have it as well. In some seeds and fruit stones, such as bitter almonds, apricots and apples, cyanides are present in high concentrations. Cyanogen chemicals are those that can create cyanide. Cyanides are connected to sugar molecules in the cyanogen glycosides of plants, which protect the plant against herbivores by preventing them from eating the plant.
Bamboo from Madagascar (Cathariostachys madagascariensis) emits cyanide to deter grazing by animals. Because of this, the bamboo-eating golden bamboo lemur has evolved into a large high
Manufacturing
Hydrogen cyanide is created via the Andrussow method, in which methane and ammonia are converted into gaseous hydrogen cyanide by the addition of oxygen and platinum catalysts.
To make sodium cyanide, hydrogen cyanide is mixed with sodium hydroxide and heated to form sodium cyanide:
Applications of cyanide
- Mining for gold is one of the uses for it.
- A cyanide chemical like sodium nitroprusside is used to stabilise electron ions during electroplating.
- To catch fish for the sea market or the aquarium, it is illegally utilised
- It is employed in the production of jewellery.
- Mining for silver employs it.
- Sodium nitroprusside is used to measure the concentration of ketone bodies in human urine.
- In nations like New Zealand, it is utilised as a form of pest management.
- It’s a tool for boosting plant germination.
- In the food business, it’s used as an additive.
Protonation
Cyanides are basic. Hydrogen cyanide has a pKa of 9.21, making it one of the most soluble cyanides. As a result, adding acid to cyanide salt solutions causes the formation of hydrogen cyanide.
Hydrolysis
In water, the reaction is gradual until it reaches 170 °C. Rather than deadly cyanide, it produces formate and ammonia during hydrolysis:
The enzyme cyanide hydrolase is responsible for this process.
Alkylation
By replacing a halide group with a cyanide anion due to its strong nucleophilicity, cyano groups can be inserted into organic compounds more easily (e.g., the chloride on methyl chloride). Nitriles, in general, are organic cyanides. While functionalized, the carbon chain can be lengthened by one with the application of the C-1 synthon cyanide; this means that it can be utilised as an organic synthon.
RX + CN- → RCN + X-
Redox
Strong oxidising agents including molecular chlorine (Cl2), hypochlorite (ClO), and hydrogen peroxide oxidise the cyanide ion, which is a reductant (H2O2). The cyanides in gold mining effluents are destroyed with these oxidizers.
Metal complexation
M-CN bonds are formed when the cyanide anion reacts with transition metals. Cyanide’s toxicity is based on this reaction. Metals have a strong affinity for this anion because of their negative charge, compactness, and -bonding ability.
Prussian blue and potassium ferrocyanide, two of the most important cyanide coordination compounds, are both essentially harmless because of the tight binding of the cyanides to a central iron atom.
Around 1706, iron, carbon, and nitrogen-containing compounds heated to high temperatures inadvertently yielded Prussian blue, and additional cyanides were subsequently produced (and named after it). Prussian blue lends blueprints, bluing, and cyanotypes their blue colour, to name just a few of its many applications.
Chemical tests for cyanide
Potentiometric titration, a method commonly employed in gold mining, is a common way to measure cyanide. Silver ion titration can also be used to get the determination. The vapours from an acidified boiling solution are swept into a basic absorber solution in some studies. The cyanide salt that has been absorbed into the basic solution is next tested.
Qualitative tests
Many approaches have been researched because of the well-known toxicity of cyanide. When ferricyanide is added to benzidine, the compound turns blue. Prussian blue is formed when iron(II) sulphate is introduced to a cyanide solution, such as the filtrate from the sodium fusion test. Inorganic cyanide interacts with para-benzoquinone in DMSO to generate a luminous cyanophenol. If the test is positive, a green/blue glow is seen when the UV light is illuminated.
Conclusion
The cyanide anion CN is found in inorganic cyanides. Sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide, for example, are extremely poisonous soluble salts. Industrial-scale production of hydrocyanic acid (HCN), commonly known as hydrogen cyanide or HCN, results in a highly volatile liquid. A cyanide salt acidification produces it.
In general, cyanides in the organic form are known as nitriles. A covalent connection connects the CN group to carbon in nitriles. In acetonitrile, for example, the cyanide group is attached to the methyl atoms (CH3). Cyanohydrins, on the other hand, do release cyanide ions, even though nitriles normally don’t.
Prussian blue is used to make cyanide, and the word cyanide comes from the Greek kyanos, which means “dark blue.”
