COBALT(II) CYANIDE Property

Melting point:

decomposes at 300℃ [CRC10]

Density 

anhydrous: 1.872 [KIR79]

solubility 

insoluble in H2O, acid solutions

form 

pink-brown needles

color 

pink-brown needles

Water Solubility 

insoluble H2O, acids, methyl acetate; soluble alkali cyanides [MER06]

Safety

Hazard Codes 

T+,N

Risk Statements 

26/27/28-32-50/53

Safety Statements 

7-28-29-45-60-61

RIDADR 

UN 1588 6.1/PG 2

WGK Germany 

2

Hazard and Precautionary Statements (GHS)

Symbol(GHS)

Signal word

Danger

Hazard statements

H300Fatal if swallowed

H310Fatal in contact with skin

H330Fatal if inhaled

H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Precautionary statements

P260Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.

P264Wash hands thoroughly after handling.

P264Wash skin thouroughly after handling.

P273Avoid release to the environment.

P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.

P284Wear respiratory protection.

P301+P310IF SWALLOWED: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.

COBALT(II) CYANIDE Chemical Properties,Usage,Production

Chemical Properties

pink to reddish brown powder(s) or needles [MER06]

Structure and conformation

A light brown precipitate of Co(CN)2.2 or 2·5H2O can be obtained from cobalt(II) chloride and potassium cyanide solutions. This can be dehydrated at 250°in a stream of nitrogen to the blue anhydrous cyanide. Both the hydrated and the anhydrous compounds have magnetic moments (3.27 and 312 B.M. respectively) which are much lower than is expected for three unpaired electrons. The crystal structures of these compounds have been interpreted as being that of soluble Prussian blue with one cobalt atom being low spin (one unpaired electron) surrounded by six carbon atoms while the other is high spin (three unpaired electrons) being surrounded by six nitrogen atoms as nearest neighbours.