Chemical Database

Sodium Cyanide

Identifications

  • Formula: NaCN
    Elements: Carbon, Nitrogen, Sodium
  • CAS Number: 13998-03-3
  • CAS Number: 143-33-9
  • CAS Number: 15745-74-1
  • CAS Number: 25596-52-5
  • CAS Number: 60195-52-0
  • Caswell Number: 758
  • CCOHS Record Number: 562
  • RCRA Waste Number: P098
  • RCRA Waste Number: P106
  • RTECS Number: VZ7530000
  • Synonyms/Related:
    • (NaCN) 2
    • Cianuro di sodio
    • Cianuro di sodio (ITALIAN)
    • Cyanide of sodium
    • Cyanobrik
    • Cyanogran
    • Cyanure de sodium
    • Cyanure de sodium (FRENCH)
    • Cyanure de sodium [French]
    • Cyanure de sodium [ISO-French]
    • Cymag
    • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code: 074002
    • Hydrocyanic acid, sodium salt
    • Kalium cyanid (German)
    • Kalium cyanid [German]
    • Kaliumcyanid
    • Kaliumzyanid
    • KCN
    • Kyanid sodny
    • Kyanid sodny (CZECH)
    • Kyanid sodny [Czech]
    • NaCN
    • Natrium cyanide
    • Natriumcyanid
    • Natriumzyanid
    • Sodium Cyanide
    • Sodium cyanide (Na(CN))
    • Sodium cyanide (solution)
    • Sodium cyanide solution
    • Sodium cyanide [ISO]
    • Sodium cyanide, solid
    • Sodium cyanide, solution
    • Sodium salt of hydrocyanic acid

Properties

  • Boiling Point: K °C °F
  • Flammability:
    • Explosive Limits:
      • Lower Explosive Limit: 0%
      • Upper Explosive Limit: 0%
    • Flammable Limits:
      • Lower Flammable Limit: 0%
      • Upper Flammable Limit: 0%
    • Flash Point K °C °F
    • Autoignition Temperature: K °C °F
  • Incompatiblities:
    • acid salts
    • acids
    • chlorates
    • nitrates
    • strong oxidizers
  • Melting Point: K °C °F

Health & Regulatory Guidelines

  • EPA Regulations:
    • Reportable Quantity: 10 Lbs
    • Threshold Planning Quantity: 100 Lbs
    • Marine Polutant: Yes
  • NFPA 704 Rating:
    • Health Hazardard Rating: 3
    • Fire Hazardard Rating: 0
    • Reactivity Hazardard Rating: 0
  • NIOSH Guidelines:
  • OSHA Regulations:
    • TWA: mg/mĀ3
    • TWA Vacated: mg/mĀ3
  • Health Risks: Highly Toxic
  • Corrosive: Yes
  • Notes: Absorbs moisture from the air forming a syrup.

49 CFR 172.101 - Hazardous Materials Table

symHazardous materials description and proper shipping namesHaz class or divID#PGLCSpec prov §172.102Pack §173Qty limitVessel
ExcepNon BulkBulkPass air/railCargo air onlyLocOther
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8A)(8B)(8C)(9A)(9B)(10A)(10B)
Current as of Oct. 6, 2011
Sodium cyanide solution6.1UN3414I6.1B69, B77, N74, N75, T14, TP2, TP13None201243ForbidForbidB52
Sodium cyanide solution6.1UN3414II6.1B69, B77, IB2, N74, N75, T11, TP2, TP13, TP27153202243ForbidForbidB52
Sodium cyanide solution6.1UN3414III6.1B69, B77, IB3, N74, N75, T7, TP2, TP13, TP28153203241ForbidForbidA52
Sodium cyanide, solid6.1UN1689I6.1B69, B77, IB7, N74, N75, T6, TP33None211242ForbidForbidB52

2008 Emergency Response Guidebook Information

Produced by the US DOT the ERG is designed to aid first responders in quickly identifying specific or generic hazards of materials involved in an incident and protecting themselves and the general public during the initial response phase of an incident.

UN#GuideName of MaterialISOH20 ReactTIH Gas(es)
Current as of: Oct. 2, 2011
1689157Sodium cyanideNoYesHCN
1689157Sodium cyanide, solidNoYesHCN
3414157Sodium cyanide, solutionNoNo 
Isolation and Protective Action Distances Table
SMALL SPILLSLARGE SPILLS
UN#Name of MaterialFirst ISOLATE in all DirectionsThen PROTECT Persons Downwind During-First ISOLATE in all DirectionsThen PROTECT Persons Downwind During-
DayNightDayNight
mftkmmikmmimftkmmikmmi

Please see: How to use the table of initial isolation and protective action distances

Current as of: Oct. 2, 2011

1689Sodium cyanide301000.10.10.20.11003000.40.31.40.9
1689Sodium cyanide, solid301000.10.10.20.11003000.40.31.40.9

Related Resources

  • USDOT Hazardous Materials Table 49 CFR 172.101
    An online version of the USDOT's listing of hazardous materials from 49CFR 172.101. This table can be sorted by proper shipping name, UN/NA ID and/or by primary hazard class/division.
  • 2008 ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook)
    Have you ever wondered what those four digit numbers on the placards on the side of trucks and rail cars mean? Our online 2008 ERG will give you your answer. This is an online version of the guidebook produced by the USDOT for first responders during the initial phase of a Dangerous goods/HazMat incident. ERG data last verified/updated Oct. 2, 2011
  • US DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Placards
    Hazardous materials placards (DOT placards) are required when shipping hazardous materials in the United States, Canada and Mexico. These pages provide US DOT definitions for each hazmat placard.
  • Guide for Handling Household Chemicals
    Things you can do to make your home safer.
  • Molarity, Molality and Normality
    Introduces stoichiometry and explains the differences between molarity, molality and normality.
  • Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
    Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations.
  • Periodic Table of Elements
    Provides comprehensive data for each element of the periodic table of elements including up to 40 properties, names in 10 languages and common chemical compounds. Information also provided for 3,600 nuclides and 4,400 nuclide decay modes.

Editor's note: Some chemicals in this database contain more information than others due to the original reason this information was collected and how the compilation was accomplished.

While working with material safety data sheets (MSDS), I found that manufacturers sometimes used obscure names for constituent chemicals and I didn't always have a good idea of what I was dealing with. To resolve this problem, over the years, I compiled chemical names and identifiers into a personal database, cross referencing regulatory and health safety information when possible. Colleagues and friends eventually started suggesting that I make my data available on this website so that others could benefit from my efforts -- which I finally did in 2004. The more common, regulated and/or hazardous a chemical is, the more information I will have likely collected it.

Trademarks

If you are aware of any synonyms listed above that are registered trademarks, please contact us with relevant information so that trademarks can be appropriately noted.

Notes about mixtures

Some chemicals listed in this database or not pure chemical compounds, rather they are mixtures/solutions of chemicals. It is not uncommon for wide range of molar ratios of a mixture to be lumped together as "synonyms" of the same "chemical". In some instances chemicals that are very similar from a health & safety and/or regulatory standpoint also may have been lumped together.

Reference Sources

Data for this database was compiled from: hundreds of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) of common industrial and household products; the Hazardous Materials Table from the United States "Code of Federal Regulations" title 49 section 172.101; the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards; the US DOT 1996, 2000 & 2004 Emergency Response Guidebooks; U.S. National Library of Medicine and many other related resources.

Disclaimer

WARNING: These pages are for general reference and educational purposes only and MUST NOT be relied upon as a sole source to determine regulatory compliance or where matters of life and health are concerned. This site and the author do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or the sufficiency of the information provided and do not assume any responsibility for its use.

To ensure regulatory compliance when transporting hazardous materials or dangerous goods, one must receive proper training and certification from a qualified instructor and refer to the current year's Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 (49CFR) or your country's shipping regulations. In matters regarding workplace safety, refer to current OSHA regulations (29CFR) and NIOSH guidelines or your own country's health and safety regulations. No one should ever enter into a hazardous environment without proper training from qualified instructors.

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