Barium cyanide

Barium cyanide is a chemical compound with the formula Ba₂. It is synthesized by the reaction of hydrogen cyanide and barium hydroxide in water or petroleum ether. It is a white crystalline salt.

Uses

Barium cyanide is used in electroplating and other metallurgical processes.

Preparation

Barium cyanide is prepared by reacting barium hydroxide with hydrocyanic acid:
The product is crystallized from the solution.

Reactions

Barium cyanide reacts with water and carbon dioxide in air slowly, producing highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas.
When barium cyanide is heated to 300°C with steam present, the nitrogen evolves to ammonia, leaving barium formate.
Aqueous solutions of barium cyanide dissolve insoluble cyanides of some of the heavy metals forming crystalline double salts. For example, BaHg₄.3H₂O in needles, 2Ba₂.3Hg₂.23H₂O in transparent octahedra, and Ba₂.Hg₂.HgI₂.6H₂O.