Cadmium cyanide

Cadmium cyanide
Names
IUPAC name
Cadmium(II) cyanide
Identifiers
542-83-6 Yes
ChemSpider 61630 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
PubChem 68335
Properties
Cd(CN)2
Molar mass 164.45 g/mol
Appearance white cubic crystals
Density 2.226 g/cm3
1.71 g/100 mL (15 °C)
2.2 g/100 mL (20 °C)
Solubility slightly soluble in alcohol
dissolves in alkali, metal cyanides and hydroxides
Related compounds
Other anions
Cadmium chloride,
Cadmium iodide
Other cations
Zinc cyanide,
Calcium cyanide,
Magnesium cyanide
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Cadmium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula Cd(CN)2. This white crystalline compound is used in electroplating.[1] It is very toxic, along with other cadmium and cyanide compounds.

Usage

It is used as an electrolyte for electrodeposition of thin metallic cadmium coatings on metal to protect against corrosion.

Preparation and structure

Cadmium cyanide is prepared by treating cadmium hydroxide with hydrogen cyanide:[2]

Cd(OH)2 + 2 HCN → Cd(CN)2 + 2 H2O

It adopts a diamondoid structure, like Zn(CN)2.

Reactions

Like zinc cyanide, cadmium cyanide is fairly soluble in water, which is unusual for metal cyanides. The solubility increases with the additional cyanide, this reaction proceeding via "[Cd(CN)3]" and [Cd(CN)4]2−. With acids, its solutions evolve hydrogen cyanide.

References

  1. Lide, David R., ed. (2006). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87th ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-0487-3.
  2. Karl-Heinz Schulte-Schrepping, Magnus Piscator "Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2007 Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a04_499.