Sodium cyanide

Sodium cyanide is an inorganic salt, NaCN, composed of sodium and cyanide ions. It is highly toxic and used chiefly in gold extraction and chemical manufacturing.

Cyanide: Cyanide is a chemical species containing a carbon–nitrogen group, especially the CN⁻ ion. The cyanide ion gives sodium cyanide its metal-binding chemistry and acute toxicity.
Cyanide leaching: Cyanide leaching is the extraction of metals from ore by dissolving them in cyanide solutions. It is the principal industrial process using sodium cyanide.
Ionic compounds: Ionic compounds consist of positively and negatively charged ions held together by electrostatic attraction. Sodium cyanide is an ionic solid made of sodium cations and cyanide anions.
Baia Mare cyanide spill: The Baia Mare cyanide spill was a 2000 release of contaminated mine water into waterways in Romania and Hungary. The disaster exposed the risks of cyanide-bearing waste from gold processing.
Gold cyanidation: Gold cyanidation is a hydrometallurgical process that dissolves gold in a cyanide solution for recovery. Sodium cyanide supplies the cyanide ions that dissolve gold from ore.
Gold extraction: Gold extraction is the recovery of gold from ores, concentrates, or recycled materials. Sodium cyanide is widely used to recover gold from low-grade ore.
Sodium: Sodium is a soft, highly reactive alkali metal with atomic number 11. Sodium forms the positively charged ion in sodium cyanide.
Cyanide destruction: Cyanide destruction is the chemical treatment of cyanide-bearing waste to reduce its toxicity. Mining operations use treatment methods to lower cyanide concentrations in process water and tailings.
Cyanide poisoning: Cyanide poisoning is illness caused by cyanide compounds interfering with cellular oxygen use. Sodium cyanide can release cyanide ions that block cellular respiration.
Electroplating: Electroplating deposits a thin metal layer on a surface using an electric current. Cyanide-based baths have been used to plate metals such as silver and gold.

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