Sodium cyanide is a compound with the formula NaCN and the structure Na Cā”N. It is a white, water-soluble solid. Cyanide has a high affinity for metals, which leads to the high toxicity of this salt. Its main application, in gold mining, also exploits its high reactivity toward metals. It is a moderately strong base.
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š Sodium cyanide in the context of Cyanide
In chemistry, cyanide (from Greek kyanosĀ 'dark blue') is an inorganic chemical compound that contains a Cā”N functional group. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom.
Ionic cyanides contain the cyanide anion Cā”N. This anion is extremely toxic and causes cyanide poisoning. Soluble cyanide salts such as sodium cyanide (NaCN), potassium cyanide (KCN) and tetraethylammonium cyanide ([(CH3CH2)4N]CN) are also highly toxic.
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Sodium cyanide in the context of Cyanide fishing
Cyanide fishing is a specific method of collecting live fish, mainly for use in aquariums, which involves spraying a sodium cyanide mixture into a habitat in order to incapacitate the fish there. This practice affects not only the target population, it also has negative and damaging effects on many other marine organisms, including coral and coral reefs.