Potassium Cyanide: Properties, Industrial Context and Safety Information
Potassium cyanide is a highly toxic inorganic compound with the chemical formula KCN and CAS number 151-50-8. It is typically encountered as a white granular or crystalline solid and has historically been used in specialized industrial applications, including electroplating and the extraction of precious metals from ores. Because of its extreme toxicity, potassium cyanide requires strict controls, appropriate professional facilities, and compliance with applicable chemical regulations. Understanding Potassium Cyanide Potassium cyanide is the potassium salt of hydrocyanic acid. Its chemical properties make it useful in certain controlled industrial and laboratory processes, but those same properties create significant safety concerns. NIOSH identifies ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption, and eye or skin contact as potential exposure routes. The substance is also highly reactive under particular conditions. Contact with acids can produce hydrogen cyanide, a highly toxic and flam...