| Chemical Properties | Barium cyanide is a white crystalline powder.
Often used in solution. |
| Physical properties | White crystalline powder; slowly decomposes in air; highly soluble in water, soluble in alcohol. |
| Uses | In electroplating processes; in metallurgy. |
| 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. |
| General Description | A white crystalline solid. Toxic by skin absorption through open wounds, by ingestion, and by inhalation of hydrogen cyanide from decomposition. Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires involving BARIUM CYANIDE. |
| Air & Water Reactions | Soluble in water. Gradually decomposed by water and rapidly decomposed by acids to give off hydrogen cyanide, a flammable poison gas. |
| Reactivity Profile | BARIUM CYANIDE is an inorganic cyanide. Members of this class that contain heavy metals tend to explosive instability, most of them are capable of violent oxidation under certain conditions; fusion of metal cyanides with metal chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates, or nitrites can cause violent explosion [Bretherick 1979 p. 101]. |
| Hazard | Questionable carcinogen. |
| Health Hazard | INHALATION OR INGESTION: Exposure to cyanides can cause headache, vertigo, nausea, and vomiting may occur at low concentrations. High concentration causes difficult breathing, palpitation, paralysis, unconsciousness, respiratory arrest, cyanosis, and death. EYES: Irritation. SKIN: Rash, desquamation and itching. |
| Fire Hazard | Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic cyanides and barium oxides. |
| Safety Profile | A deadly poison. See
also CYANIDE and BARIUM
COMPOUNDS (soluble). When heated to
decomposition it emits toxic fumes of CN-. |
| Potential Exposure | Barium cyanide is used in electroplating
and in metallurgy. |
| Shipping | UN1565 Barium cyanide, Hazard Class: 6.1;
Labels: 6.1—Poisonous materials. |
| Incompatibilities | Solution is basic. Incompatible with oxidizers
(chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates,
chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may
cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials,
strong acids, & acid salts (release toxic hydrogen cyanide
gas), strong bases. |
| Waste Disposal | Precipitate barium with sulfate.
Then add with stirring to alkaline calcium hypochlorite
solution. Let stand 24 hours, then flush to sewer. |
