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Product Name: Potassium Cyanide
Chemical Formula: KCN
CAS Number: 151-50-8
Recommended Use: Electroplating, chemical synthesis, gold extraction, laboratory reagent
Supplier Name and Address: Supplied by various chemical manufacturers and distributors
Contact Number for Emergencies: Listed on the container label and safety documentation; National Poison Control and local emergency services also provide immediate support
Synonyms: Cyanide of potassium
Classification: Acute toxicity, oral (Category 2); acute toxicity, inhalation (Category 1); acute toxicity, dermal (Category 2); aquatic acute hazard (Category 1); aquatic chronic hazard (Category 1)
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Fatal if swallowed, fatal if inhaled, fatal in contact with skin, very toxic to aquatic organisms
Pictograms: Skull and crossbones, aquatic toxicity
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing dust, avoid contact with skin and eyes, wear protective gloves and clothing, use only in well-ventilated areas, keep away from food and drink
Chemical Name: Potassium Cyanide
Concentration: Typically above 97% pure for technical grade
Impurities: Possible presence of small amounts of sodium cyanide, potassium carbonate, water
Other Ingredients: No significant nonhazardous ingredients
Inhalation: Move affected person to fresh air without risking your own safety, provide oxygen if breathing is difficult, seek immediate emergency medical help, use resuscitation equipment that does not require mouth-to-mouth contact in case of respiratory arrest
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing promptly, rinse skin with large volumes of water for at least 15 minutes, seek medical attention right away
Eye Contact: Flush eyes continuously with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting eyelids occasionally, do not allow affected person to rub eyes, seek urgent medical advice
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth thoroughly with water if conscious, seek emergency medical care immediately, administer 100% oxygen if possible and if trained, provide antidotes like hydroxocobalamin or sodium thiosulfate if available and authorized to do so
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, CO2, or foam for small fires, water in large quantities for major incidents if possible
Fire Hazards: Product does not burn but may decompose under heat to produce highly toxic fumes, including hydrogen cyanide and potassium oxides
Protective Equipment: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective gear
Special Precautions: Avoid inhaling combustion gases, evacuate area promptly in case of significant fire, prevent fire-fighting water from contaminating sewer systems and waterways
Personal Precautions: Wear chemical-resistant gloves, face shield, eye protection, and respirator, keep unauthorized personnel away
Environmental Precautions: Prevent spills from entering drains, sewers, and waterways, notify appropriate environmental authorities
Spill Cleanup: Sweep or scoop up material and transfer to secure, labeled containers, avoid dust formation, neutralize with sodium hypochlorite solution if permitted and safe, ventilate area thoroughly after cleanup, decontaminate surfaces with diluted alkali or bleach solution
Precautions for Safe Handling: Use only with proper chemical fume hood or local exhaust ventilation, keep containers tightly closed, always handle with clean, dry hands, never pipette by mouth
Storage Conditions: Store in cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from heat, acids, and incompatible substances, segregate from foods and feedstuffs, not to be stored near bathrooms or kitchens
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, oxidizing agents, moisture, carbon dioxide
Occupational Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 5 mg/m³ (as cyanide); ACGIH TLV: 5 mg/m³ (as cyanide)
Engineering Controls: Chemical fume hood or closed dispensing system, proper exhaust ventilation, emergency eyewash and shower stations in immediate area
Personal Protective Equipment: Nitrile or butyl rubber gloves, long-sleeve lab coat or chemical suit, safety goggles with face shield, certified respirator for dust or cyanide vapor in non-ventilated areas
Appearance: White, crystalline solid
Odor: Faint, almond-like (not all individuals can detect this odor)
Melting Point: 634 °C (1173 °F)
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility: Highly soluble in water
pH (in solution): 11 – 12.5 (0.1 M solution)
Vapor Pressure: Not applicable (solid at room temperature)
Flash Point: Not flammable
Density: 1.52 g/cm³
Molecular Weight: 65.12 g/mol
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions in dry, tightly sealed containers
Reactivity: Generates toxic hydrogen cyanide gas with acids, reacts with moisture to form potassium hydroxide and hydrogen cyanide
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, oxidizers, moisture, carbon dioxide
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Hydrogen cyanide, potassium oxide
Conditions to Avoid: Exposure to air, heat, moisture, strong acids
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, eye contact
Acute Toxicity: LD50 Oral (rat): 5 mg/kg; highly toxic even in low amounts
Symptoms of Exposure: Dizziness, headache, nausea, anxiety, shortness of breath, convulsions, unconsciousness, rapid onset of respiratory failure
Chronic Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause central nervous system effects, thyroid damage, and skin irritation
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic by OSHA, IARC, or NTP
Other Health Hazards: Toxic to reproductive system and developing fetus in animal studies, especially at high exposures
Aquatic Toxicity: Highly toxic to fish, aquatic invertebrates, and other water-dwelling organisms; LC50 (96h, fish): 0.05 mg/L
Persistence and Degradability: Cyanide compounds can degrade over time in the environment, but persistence is longer in low-oxygen waters
Bioaccumulation Potential: Not likely to bioaccumulate in most organisms due to rapid conversion or excretion
Soil Mobility: Highly mobile in moist soil; risk of groundwater contamination
Other Adverse Effects: Significant ecological risk where accidental release reaches bodies of water, possible risk to avian and terrestrial species near spill sites
Waste Treatment Methods: Neutralize with dilute sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide under controlled, permitted conditions, always performed by properly trained personnel
Contaminated Packaging: Triple rinse, then offer for hazardous waste incineration if permitted
Disposal Precautions: Consult federal, state, and local regulations before chemical or container disposal; never discharge untreated waste into drains, surface water, or soil
Regulatory Compliance: Categorized as hazardous waste (U.S.: EPA Hazardous Waste Number P098); disposal only through licensed specialist waste contractors
UN Number: UN 1680
Proper Shipping Name: Potassium Cyanide
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic substances)
Packing Group: I (substances presenting highest danger)
Labels Required: Toxic (skull and crossbones), marine pollutant for shipments by sea
Special Transport Precautions: Kept in watertight containers, handled only by trained personnel, emergency response procedures in place during loading/unloading, strict mandates for notification and reporting during transport incidents
U.S. Regulations: Listed as an extremely hazardous substance under EPCRA Section 302, subject to strict reporting and handling requirements under OSHA, TSCA, and CERCLA; SARA Title III Section 313 covers environmental releases
International Regulations: Controlled under numerous international guidelines for pesticidal and toxic chemical handling; listed under the Rotterdam Convention and by European REACH; transportation tightly regulated by IATA (air), IMDG (marine), ADR (Europe)
Occupational Restrictions: Only qualified, trained personnel permitted to handle; restricted workplace exposure levels enforced
Consumer Use: Strictly prohibited for general consumer use; legal possession and use limited to licensed and authorized entities
