Sodium cyanide formula is a poisonous compound with the formula NaCN. It is a white, water-soluble solid. Cyanide has a high affinity for metals, which leads to the high toxicity of this salt.
What is Sodium cyanide formula?
NaCN is a cyanide salt, a sodium salt, and a one-carbon compound with the chemical name Sodium cyanide formula. It is also called Cyanogran, a Cyanide of sodium or Cyanobrik. It is extremely poisonous and inhibits various metabolic processes. It is widely used as a test reagent for the proper functioning of chemoreceptors and in industrial processes.

Cyanogran is a crystalline solid white in colour which can also be obtained in powder or lump solid form. It contains an equal number of cyanide anions and sodium cations.
NaCN Uses (Sodium cyanide formula)
Sodium cyanide formula is used in the extraction of gold.
Used in the mining industry.
Used as a rodenticide.
Used to clean metals.
Used in the manufacturing of dyes.
Used in the making of electroplating solutions.
Used in the production of hydrocyanic acid.
Used in agricultural chemicals.
Used to prepare nitriles.
Used as a chelating agent.

Production of Sodium cyanide formula
Cyanide of sodium is obtained by reacting hydrogen cyanide (HCN) with sodium hydroxide (NaOH):

HCN + NaOH → NaCN + H2O

In the year 2006, worldwide production of Cyanobrik was estimated to approximately 5,00,000 tons. It was produced by the Castner process which involved the reaction of sodium amide (NaNH2) with carbon at high temperature.

NaNH2 + C → NaCN + H2

Health hazards
Cyanogran is extremely toxic. The safe amount of oral lethal dose in humans is considered to be less than 5 mg/kg for a 70 kg person. This compound is fatal when inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or swallowed. Contact with it can cause burns to the eyes and skin. It is toxic when inhaled, ingested or in contact with vapours, or dusts and may result in death. On reacting with moist air or water it releases corrosive, flammable, toxic gases.

Sodium cyanide formula is an important raw material used in industry, which usually exists in white crystal or powder. It easily deliquesces in the air and it tastes bitter as almond, also this chemical can dissolve in water, ammonia, ethyl alcohol and methyl alcohol. Sodium cyanide formula will give off the toxic and flammable hydrogen cyanide.

Sodium cyanide formula will not exist together with acid, will react with carbon dioxide and will decompose in air and water. If exposed in the oxygen, it will decompose as hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and oxynitride. Sodium cyanide formula will react violently with nitrate, nitrite, and chlorate, which may cause explosion. It will give off the toxic and flammable hydrogen cyanide when mixed with acid. Also, it will give off few hydrogen cyanide in the wet air and carbon dioxide.
Sodium cyanide formula is a basic chemical raw material, which can be used in producing its derivatives, metallurgy, electroplate, medicine, agriculture and other industry area.

The mining industry has historically used sodium cyanide formula for gold extraction since the latter half of the 19th century, and remains the largest of the end users of the sodium cyanide formula market. About 75% of global sodium cyanide formula consumption is used in the mining industry, and about 90% of sodium cyanide formula consumption in North America is used in mining.