Cadmium cyanide

Cadmium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula Cd(CN)₂. It is a white crystalline compound that is used in electroplating.^[2] It is very toxic, along with other cadmium and cyanide compounds.

Cadmium cyanide

Cadmium cyanide
Names
IUPAC name Cadmium(II) cyanide
Identifiers
CAS Number	542-83-6 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	61630 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.008.027
PubChem CID	68335
UNII	L520HA8ZUK Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID60969164
InChI InChI=1S/2CN.Cd/c2*1-2;/q2*-1;+2 Y Key: NHMJUOSYSOOPDM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/2CN.Cd/c2*1-2;/q2*-1;+2 Key: NHMJUOSYSOOPDM-UHFFFAOYAI
SMILES [Cd+2].[C-]#N.[C-]#N
Properties
Chemical formula	Cd(CN)2
Molar mass	164.45 g/mol
Appearance	white cubic crystals
Density	2.226 g/cm3
Solubility in water	1.71 g/100 mL (15 °C) 2.2 g/100 mL (20 °C)
Solubility	slightly soluble in alcohol dissolves in alkali, metal cyanides and hydroxides
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	−54.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)	[1910.1027] TWA 0.005 mg/m3 (as Cd)[1]
REL (Recommended)	Ca[1]
IDLH (Immediate danger)	Ca [9 mg/m3 (as Cd)][1]
Related compounds
Other anions	Cadmium chloride, Cadmium iodide
Other cations	Zinc cyanide, Calcium cyanide, Magnesium cyanide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Preparation and structure

Cadmium cyanide is prepared commercially by treating cadmium hydroxide with hydrogen cyanide:^[3]

Cd(OH)₂ + 2 HCN → Cd(CN)₂ + 2 H₂O

It can also be generated from tetracyanocadmate:

[Cd(CN)₄]²⁻ + CdCl₂ → 2 Cd(CN)₂ + 2 Cl⁻

Structure of the clathrate consisting of cadmium cyanide host and carbon tetrachloride guest, Cd(CN)₂^.CCl₄. Blue = Cd(CN)₂ framework, gray = C, green = disordered Cl.

Cadmium cyanide and zinc cyanide adopt similar structures.^[4] As such, each metal has tetrahedral coordination sphere. Cyanide ligands interconnect pairs of metal centers. Two of the resulting diamondoid structures are interpenetrated. The structure is related to that of cristobalite, a polymorphs of SiO₂. This structural similarity of cadmium dicyanide and cristobalite was foundational in the development of mineralomimetic chemistry: "the build-up of mineral-like structures using materials that never give stable minerals."^[5]

Reactions and uses

It is used as an electrolyte for electrodeposition of thin metallic cadmium coatings on metal to protect against corrosion.

Like zinc cyanide, cadmium cyanide is fairly soluble in water, which is unusual for transition 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. When it is crystallizes in the presence of certain small molecules, it forms clathrates.^[4]