Mercury(II) cyanide

Synonyms

Cianurina; Cyanure de mercure [French]; Dicyanomercury; Hydrargyrum cyanatum; Mercuric cyanide; Mercurius cyanatus; Mercury cyanide (Hg(CN)2); Mercury dicyanide; [ChemIDplus] UN1636

Category

Mercury Compounds, Inorganic

Description

Colorless to white powder that darkens with light exposure; [Merck Index] Soluble in cold water (9.3 g/100 ml); [Sullivan, p. 707]

Sources/Uses

Use in antiseptic soaps, photography, and to make cyanogen gas; [HSDB]

Comments

Can cause both cyanide and mercury poisoning; [HSDB] Toxic by skin absorption, inhalation, and ingestion; [CAMEO] See "Mercury, inorganic compounds" and the linked occupational disease. See "CYANIDES."

Biomedical References

Yes

0.025 mg/m3, as Hg

0.1 mg/m3, as Hg (5 mg/m3, as CN)

0.02 mg/m3, as Hg, inhalable fraction (2 mg/m3, as CN, inhalable fraction)

10 mg/m3, as Hg

will not burn

Sensorimotor

Yes

Not Classifiable

Other Poison

Chemical Asphyxiant

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Photographic Processing
• Using Disinfectants or Biocides