Barium cyanide is a chemical compound with the formula Ba(CN)2. It is synthesized by the reaction of hydrogen cyanide and barium hydroxide in water or petroleum ether. It is a white crystalline salt.
Barium cyanide is used in electroplating and other metallurgical processes.
Barium cyanide reacts with water and carbon dioxide in air slowly, producing highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas.[1]
When barium cyanide is heated to 300°C with steam present, the nitrogen evolves to ammonia, leaving barium formate.
Ba(CN)2 + 4 H2O = Ba(HCOO)2 + 2 NH3
Aqueous solutions of barium cyanide dissolve insoluble cyanides of some of the heavy metals forming crystalline double salts. For example, BaHg(CN)4.3H2O in needles, 2Ba(CN)2.3Hg(CN)2.23H2O in transparent octahedra, and Ba(CN)2.Hg(CN)2.HgI2.6H2O.[2]