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Potassium cyanide
Names
	IUPAC name Potassium cyanide
Identifiers
CAS Number	151-50-8 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:33191 ;
ChemSpider	8681 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.005.267
EC Number	205-792-3;
PubChem CID	9032;
RTECS number	TS8750000;
UNII	MQD255M2ZO ;
UN number	1680
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID0024268 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/CN.K/c1-2;/q-1;+1 Key: NNFCIKHAZHQZJG-UHFFFAOYSA-N ; InChI=1/CN.K/c1-2;/q-1;+1 Key: NNFCIKHAZHQZJG-UHFFFAOYAH;
	SMILES [K+].[C-]#N;
Properties
Chemical formula	KCN
Molar mass	65.116 g·mol−1
Appearance	White crystalline solid ; deliquescent
Odor	faint, bitter almond-like
Density	1.52 g/cm3
Melting point	634.5 °C (1,174.1 °F; 907.6 K)
Boiling point	1,625 °C (2,957 °F; 1,898 K) at 101.3 kPa
Solubility in water	71.6 g/100 ml (25 °C (77 °F; 298 K)); 100 g/100 ml (100 °C (212 °F; 373 K));
Solubility in methanol	4.91 g/100 ml (20 °C (68 °F; 293 K))
Solubility in glycerol	soluble[quantify]
Solubility in formamide	14.6 g/100 ml
Solubility in ethanol	0.57 g/100 ml
Acidity (pKa)	11.0
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	37.0×10−6 cm3/mol
Refractive index (nD)	1.410
Thermochemistry
Std molar; entropy (S⦵298)	127.8 J⋅K−1·mol-1
Std enthalpy of; formation (ΔfH⦵298)	−131.5 kJ⋅mol−1
Hazards
	GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H290, H300+H310+H330, H372, H410
Precautionary statements	P234, P260, P262, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P284, P301+P310+P330, P302+P350, P304+P340+P310, P307+P311, P314, P362, P390, P391, P403+P233, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	4 0 1
Flash point	Non-flammable
Threshold limit value (TLV)	5 mg/m3 (TWA), 5 mg/m3 (skin) (C)
	Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)	5 mg/kg (oral, rabbit); 10 mg/kg (oral, rat); 5 mg/kg (oral, rat); 8.5 mg/kg (oral, mouse);
	NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)	5 mg/m3 (TWA, skin)
REL (Recommended)	5 mg/m3 (ceiling, 4.7 ppm, 10-minute)
IDLH (Immediate danger)	25 mg/m3
Safety data sheet (SDS)	ICSC 0671
Related compounds
Other anions	Potassium cyanate; Potassium thiocyanate;
Other cations	Hydrogen cyanide; Lithium cyanide; Sodium cyanide; Rubidium cyanide; Caesium cyanide;
Related compounds	Acetonitrile
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Potassium cyanide is a compound with the formula KCN. It is a colorless salt, similar in appearance to sugar, that is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications include chemical gilding and buffing of jewelry.^[4] Potassium cyanide is highly toxic, and a dose of 200 to 300 milligrams will kill nearly any human.

The moist solid emits small amounts of hydrogen cyanide due to hydrolysis (reaction with water). Hydrogen cyanide is often described as having an odor resembling that of bitter almonds.^[5]^[6]

The taste of potassium cyanide has been described as acrid and bitter, with a burning sensation similar to lye.^[7] However, potassium cyanide kills so rapidly its taste has not been reliably documented.^{[citation needed]} In 2006, an Indian man killed himself using potassium cyanide. In the suicide note he left, the final words written were that potassium cyanide "burns the tongue and tastes acrid".^[8]^[9]

Production

KCN is produced by treating hydrogen cyanide with an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, followed by evaporation of the solution in a vacuum:^[4]

HCN + KOH → KCN + H₂O

About 50,000 short tons (45,000,000 kg) of potassium cyanide are produced yearly.^[4]

Historical production

Before 1900 and the invention of the Castner process, potassium cyanide was the most important source of alkali metal cyanides.^[4] In this historical process, potassium cyanide was produced by decomposing potassium ferrocyanide:^[10]

K₄[Fe(CN)₆] → 4 KCN + FeC₂ + N₂

Structure

In aqueous solution, KCN is dissociated into hydrated potassium (K⁺) ions and cyanide (CN⁻) ions. As a solid, KCN has structure resembling sodium chloride: with each potassium ion surrounded by six cyanide ions, and vice versa. Despite being diatomic, and thus less symmetric than chloride, the cyanide ions rotate so rapidly that their time-averaged shape is spherical. At low temperature and high pressure, this free rotation is hindered, resulting in a less symmetric crystal structure with the cyanide ions arranged in sheets.^[11]^[12]

Applications

KCN and sodium cyanide (NaCN) are widely used in organic synthesis for the preparation of nitriles and carboxylic acids, particularly in the von Richter reaction. It also finds use for the synthesis of hydantoins, which can be useful synthetic intermediates, when reacted with a carbonyl compound such as an aldehyde or ketone in the presence of ammonium carbonate.^{[citation needed]}

KCN is used as a photographic fixer in the wet plate collodion process.^[13] The KCN dissolves silver where it has not been made insoluble by the developer. This reveals and stabilizes the image, making it no longer sensitive to light. Modern wet plate photographers may prefer less toxic fixers, often opting for sodium thiosulfate, but KCN is still used.^{[needs update]}

In the 19th century, cyanogen soap, a preparation containing potassium cyanide, was used by photographers to remove silver stains from their hands.^[14]^: 11^[15]^: 73

Potassium gold cyanide

In gold mining, KCN forms the water-soluble salt potassium gold cyanide (or gold potassium cyanide) and potassium hydroxide from gold metal in the presence of oxygen (usually from the surrounding air) and water:

4 Au + 8 KCN + O₂ + 2 H₂O → 4 K[Au(CN)₂] + 4 KOH

Analytical chemistry

In analytical chemistry, potassium cyanide is used as complexing agent for chemical analysis of zinc in water and wastewater. The cyanide group complexes zinc and other heavy metals, which is separated and analyzed in a spectro-photometer.^[16]

Toxicity

Potassium cyanide is a potent inhibitor of cellular respiration, acting on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, hence blocking oxidative phosphorylation. Lactic acidosis then occurs as a consequence of anaerobic metabolism. Initially, acute cyanide poisoning causes a red or ruddy complexion in the victim because the tissues are not able to use the oxygen in the blood. The effects of potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide are identical, and symptoms of poisoning typically occur within a few minutes of ingesting the substance: the person loses consciousness, and brain death eventually follows. During this period the victim may suffer convulsions. Death is caused by histotoxic hypoxia/cerebral hypoxia. The expected LD100 dose (human) for potassium cyanide is 200–300 mg while the median lethal dose LD50 is estimated at 140 mg.^[17]

Disposal

Due to toxicity considerations, the disposal of cyanide is subject to stringent regulations. Industrial cyanide effluent is typically destroyed by oxidation using peroxysulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, sulfur dioxide/copper salts ("Inco process") or all three ("Combiox Process"). Use of sodium hypochlorite, traditional for laboratory-scale wastes, is impractical on a commercial scale. Hydrolysis at higher temperatures is highly effective, but requires specialized equipment. Lastly, cyanide wastes can be acidified for recovery of hydrogen cyanide.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b Sigma-Aldrich Co., Potassium cyanide.
^ "Cyanides (as CN)". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
^ "NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards".
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Gail, Ernst; Gos, Stephen; Kulzer, Rupprecht; Lorösch, Jürgen; Rubo, Andreas; Sauer, Manfred; Kellens, Raf; Reddy, Jay; Steier, Norbert; Hasenpusch, Wolfgang (2011). "Cyano Compounds, Inorganic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a08_159.pub3. ISBN 978-3-527-30385-4.
^ "Suicide note reveals taste of cyanide". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 July 2006.
^ Not everyone, however, can smell cyanide; the ability to do so is a genetic trait.Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM): 304300
^ "The only taste: Cyanide is acrid". hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times. 8 July 2006.
^ Associated Press (9 July 2006). "Suicide note reveals taste of cyanide". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. World. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
^ Labatut, Benjamín; West, Adrian Nathan (2020). "1". When We Cease to Understand the World. New York: New York Review Books. pp. 16–18. ISBN 9781681375663. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
^ Von Wagner, Rudolf (1897). Manual of chemical technology. New York: D. Appleton & Co. pp. 474 & 477.
^ Crystallography Open Database, Structure of KCN
^ H. T. Stokes; D. L. Decker; H. M. Nelson; J. D. Jorgensen (1993). "Structure of potassium cyanide at low temperature and high pressure determined by neutron diffraction". Physical Review B (Submitted manuscript). 47 (17): 11082–11092. Bibcode:1993PhRvB..4711082S. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.47.11082. PMID 10005242..
^ Wood, Gaby (6 July 2010). "Collodion photography: self-portrait in cyanide". www.telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
^ Crookes, William, ed. (10 September 1858). "Photographic Notes and Queries". The Photographic News: A Weekly Record of the Progress of Photography. 1 (1). London: Cassell, Petter, and Galpin: 10–12.
^ Browne, G. Lathom; Stewart, C. G. Reports of Trials for Murder by Poisoning; by Prussic Acid, Strychnia, Antimony, Arsenic, and Aconita. Including the trials of Tawell, W. Palmer, Dove, Madeline Smith, Dr. Pritchard, Smethurst, and Dr. Lamson, with chemical introduction and notes on the poisons used. London: Law Publishers and Booksellers..
^ Pawlowski, Lucjan (March 1994). "Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 18th edition". Science of the Total Environment. 142 (3): 227–228. Bibcode:1994ScTEn.142..227P. doi:10.1016/0048-9697(94)90332-8. ISSN 0048-9697.
^ Trestrail III, John Harris (30 April 2007). Criminal Poisoning - Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys (2nd ed, 2007 ed.). Humana. p. 119. ISBN 978-1588299215.

External links

[Sigma-1] Sigma-Aldrich Co., Potassium cyanide.

[2] "Cyanides (as CN)". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

[3] "NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards".

[Ullmann-4] Gail, Ernst; Gos, Stephen; Kulzer, Rupprecht; Lorösch, Jürgen; Rubo, Andreas; Sauer, Manfred; Kellens, Raf; Reddy, Jay; Steier, Norbert; Hasenpusch, Wolfgang (2011). "Cyano Compounds, Inorganic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a08_159.pub3. ISBN 978-3-527-30385-4.

[5] "Suicide note reveals taste of cyanide". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 July 2006.

[6] Not everyone, however, can smell cyanide; the ability to do so is a genetic trait.Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM): 304300

[7] "The only taste: Cyanide is acrid". hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times. 8 July 2006.

[Sydney_Herald-8] Associated Press (9 July 2006). "Suicide note reveals taste of cyanide". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. World. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 2 May 2025.

[Labatut-9] Labatut, Benjamín; West, Adrian Nathan (2020). "1". When We Cease to Understand the World. New York: New York Review Books. pp. 16–18. ISBN 9781681375663. Retrieved 2 May 2025.

[Wagner-10] Von Wagner, Rudolf (1897). Manual of chemical technology. New York: D. Appleton & Co. pp. 474 & 477.

[11] Crystallography Open Database, Structure of KCN

[Stokes1993-12] H. T. Stokes; D. L. Decker; H. M. Nelson; J. D. Jorgensen (1993). "Structure of potassium cyanide at low temperature and high pressure determined by neutron diffraction". Physical Review B (Submitted manuscript). 47 (17): 11082–11092. Bibcode:1993PhRvB..4711082S. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.47.11082. PMID 10005242..

[13] Wood, Gaby (6 July 2010). "Collodion photography: self-portrait in cyanide". www.telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 November 2025.

[14] Crookes, William, ed. (10 September 1858). "Photographic Notes and Queries". The Photographic News: A Weekly Record of the Progress of Photography. 1 (1). London: Cassell, Petter, and Galpin: 10–12.

[15] Browne, G. Lathom; Stewart, C. G. Reports of Trials for Murder by Poisoning; by Prussic Acid, Strychnia, Antimony, Arsenic, and Aconita. Including the trials of Tawell, W. Palmer, Dove, Madeline Smith, Dr. Pritchard, Smethurst, and Dr. Lamson, with chemical introduction and notes on the poisons used. London: Law Publishers and Booksellers..

[16] Pawlowski, Lucjan (March 1994). "Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 18th edition". Science of the Total Environment. 142 (3): 227–228. Bibcode:1994ScTEn.142..227P. doi:10.1016/0048-9697(94)90332-8. ISSN 0048-9697.

[17] Trestrail III, John Harris (30 April 2007). Criminal Poisoning - Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys (2nd ed, 2007 ed.). Humana. p. 119. ISBN 978-1588299215.

v t e Potassium compounds
H, (pseudo)halogens	KBr KBrO₃ KBrO₄ KCl KClO KClO2 KClO₃ KClO₄ KCN KCNO KF KHF₂ KH KI KIO₃ KIO₄ KOCN KSCN
chalcogens	K₂O KOH K₂O₂ KO₂ KO₃ K₂S KHS K₂SO₃ KHSO₃ K₂SO₄ KHSO₄ KHSO₅ K₂S₂O₃ K₂S₂O₅ K₂S₂O₇ K₂S₂O₈ K₂Se K₂SeO₄ K₂Te K₂TeO₃ K₂Po
pnictogens	KAsO₂ KH₂AsO₄ K₃N KN₃ KNH₂ KNO₂ KNO₃ K₂HPO₄ KH₂PO₃ KH₂PO₄ K₃P KPF₆ K₃PO₄
B, C group	KBF₄ K₂Al₂B₂O₇ K₂Al₂O₄ K₂CO₃ KHCO₃ K₂SiF₆ K₂SiO₃
transition metals	K₂ReBr₆ KCrO₃Cl K₄Mo₂Cl₈ K₂OsCl₆ K₂PtCl₄ K₂PtCl₆ K₂ReCl₆ K₃CrO₄ K₂CrO₄ K₃CrO₈ K₂Cr₂O₇ K₂FeO₄ K₄[Fe(CN)₆]·3H₂O K₃[Fe(CN)₆] K₃[Fe(C₂O₄)₃] K₂TiF₆ K₂ReF₆ KAsF₆ K₂ZrF₆ K₂ReI₆ K₂[Pt(CN)₄] K₂MnO₄ KMnO₄
organic	KHCO₂ KCH₃CO₂ KCF₃CO₂ KHC₂O₄ C₆H₅COOK KC₈H₅O₄ KC₁₂H₂₃O₂ KC₁₈H₃₅O₂ CF₃KO₃S

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