Nickel(II) cyanide

Nickel(II) cyanide is the inorganic compound with a chemical formula Ni(CN)₂. The trihydrate is a gray-green solid that is insoluble in most solvents including water, while the anhydrous form is a yellow solid.^[2][3]

Nickel(II) cyanide

Identifiers
CAS Number	557-19-7 Y tetrahydrate: 13477-95-7 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image tetrahydrate: Interactive image
ChemSpider	10711 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.008.329
EC Number	209-160-8
PubChem CID	11184 tetrahydrate: 71317429
UNII	YX45CR8P6A
UN number	1653
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID60971065
InChI InChI=1S/2CN.Ni/c2*1-2;/q2*-1;+2 Key: NLEUXPOVZGDKJI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [C-]#N.[C-]#N.[Ni+2] tetrahydrate: [C-]#N.[C-]#N.O.O.O.O.[Ni+2]
Properties
Chemical formula	Ni(CN)2
Molar mass	110.729 g/mol
Appearance	yellow-brown solid (anhydrous) blue gray solid (tetrahydrate)[1]
Solubility in water	insoluble
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H317, H334, H350, H372, H410
Precautionary statements	P201, P202, P260, P261, P264, P270, P272, P273, P280, P281, P285, P302+P352, P304+P341, P308+P313, P314, P321, P333+P313, P342+P311, P363, P391, P405, P501
Related compounds
Other cations	Iron(II) cyanide Cobalt(II) cyanide
Related compounds	Potassium cyanonickelate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Production

Addition of two equivalents of sodium or potassium cyanide to a solution of nickel(II) ions in aqueous solution leads to the precipitation of nickel(II) cyanide trihydrate.^[4] On heating the trihydrate to 140 °C, this hydrate converts to anhydrous nickel(II) cyanide.^[2][3]

Chemical properties

K₂[Ni(CN)₄] (tetracyanonickelate) solution)

Nickel(II) cyanide dissolves in potassium cyanide solution to produce a yellowish solution containing potassium tetracyanonickelate:^[2][4]

Ni(CN)₂ + 2 KCN → K₂[Ni(CN)₄]

Nickel(II) cyanide will react with dimethylglyoxime (dmgH₂) and produce hydrogen cyanide:^[5]

Ni(CN)₂ + 2 dmgH₂ → Ni(dmgH)₂ + 2 HCN

See also

• Palladium dicyanide