Potassium cyanate

Chemical Properties

Potassium cyanate, KCNO, white solid, soluble, formed along with lead metal by reaction of potassium cyanide and lead monoxide solids upon heating. Source of cyanate.

Chemical Properties

Potassium cyanate, KOCN,is colorless,water soluble crystals. Used as an herbicide and for the manufacture of drugs and organic chemicals,

Uses

Herbicide, manufacture of organic chemicals and drugs, treatment of sickle-cell anemia.

Uses

Potassium cyanate is used as an inhibitor to prevent sickling of erythrocytes and has potential use as a treatment for sickle-cell anemia. Potassium cyanate is also used as a reagent to carbamylate proteins.

Uses

Potassium cyanate is used as chemical intermediate and as a weed killer. It is also used for the heat treatment of metals.

Definition

ChEBI: Potassium cyanate is a cyanate salt and a one-carbon compound. It has a role as a herbicide.

General Description

Potassium cyanate can be prepared by reacting urea with alkali hydroxide or carbonates at high temperatures.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Safety Profile

Poison by intraperitoneal route. Moderately toxic by ingestion. Causes irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. An herbicide. It is said to be slowly metabolized in the body to cyanide but does not have high toxicity of cyanides. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of CNand K2O.

Purification Methods

Common impurities include ammonia and bicarbonate ion (from hydrolysis). Purify it by preparing a saturated aqueous solution at 50o, neutralising with acetic acid, filtering, adding two volumes of EtOH and keeping for 3-4hours in an ice bath. (More EtOH can lead to co-precipitation of KHCO3.) Filter, wash it with EtOH and dry it rapidly in a vacuum desiccator (P2O5). The process is repeated [Vanderzee & Meyers J Chem Soc 65 153 1961].