Chemical Properties
Colorless crystals. Soluble in water and
alcohol.
Uses
In manufacture of mirrors to prevent the silver coating from becoming yellow; as reagent in testing for free acids.
General Description
A colorless crystalline solid. Denser than water. Toxic by inhalation and ingestion. Produces toxic oxides of nitrogen during combustion.
Air & Water Reactions
Soluble in water. Rapidly decomposes in presence of acids with generation of hydrogen cyanide, a flammable poison gas.
Reactivity Profile
MERCURIC POTASSIUM CYANIDE is rapidly decomposed by acids to evolve hydrogen cyanide, a flammable poisonous gas. May tend to explosive instability. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. Fusion with metal chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates or nitrites can cause violent explosions [Bretherick 1979. p. 101]. Contact with ammonia may be explosive.
Hazard
Highly toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and
skin absorption.
Health Hazard
TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or contact (skin, eyes) with vapors, dusts or substance may cause severe injury, burns or death. Reaction with water or moist air will release toxic, corrosive or flammable gases. Reaction with water may generate much heat that will increase the concentration of fumes in the air. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution.
Fire Hazard
Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes. Vapors may accumulate in confined areas (basement, tanks, hopper/tank cars etc.). Substance will react with water (some violently), releasing corrosive and/or toxic gases and runoff. Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated or if contaminated with water.
Safety Profile
A poison. May explode
on contact with ammonia. When heated to
decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of
NOx, Hg, K2O, and CN-. See also
MERCURY COMPOUNDS and
CYANIDE.
