Sodium Cyanide Properties

Description

Sodium cyanide is an inorganic compound. This highly toxic colourless salt is used mainly in gold mining but has other niche applications. It is an inorganic salt derived from neutralization reactions involving the weak acid hydrogen cyanide. In organic synthesis, cyanide, which is classified as a strong nucleophile, is used to prepare nitriles, which occur widely in many specialty chemicals, including pharmaceuticals. Being highly toxic, sodium cyanide is used to kill or stun rapidly such as in illegal cyanide fishing and in collecting jars used by entomologists.