Formula Cd(CN)2 Density 2.23 g/cm³ | Molar mass 164.45 g/mol Appearance white cubic crystals | |
Cadmium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula Cd(CN)2. This white crystalline compound is used in electroplating. It is very toxic, along with other cadmium and cyanide compounds.
Contents
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:
Cd(OH)2 + 2 HCN → Cd(CN)2 + 2 H2OIt 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
Cadmium cyanide Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA