Iam planning to make some potassium cyanide using this method- https://www.bitchute.com/video/Yf0n1vgWLJJU/ . In the video, potassium ferrocyanide is used, but i only have potassium ferricyanide, could i use
that instead?DavidJR - 29-3-2020 at 07:10
Iam planning to make some potassium cyanide using this method- https://www.bitchute.com/video/Yf0n1vgWLJJU/ . In the video, potassium ferrocyanide is used, but i only have potassium ferricyanide, could i use
that instead?
You can reduce the ferricyanide to ferrocyanide using a number of methods. Hydrogen peroxide will do it under basic conditions.
You can react potassium ferricyanide with a 6 mol equivalent of HCl and bubble the hydrogen cyanide into aqueous hydroxide then recrystallize. Don't
recommend though since hydrogen cyanide is one of those insidious poisons that doesn't take much. If you have a lab grade fume hood with adequate
safety measure you can give it a shot. Just be safe.woelen - 31-3-2020 at 03:55
No, this does not work. Ferricyanide and ferrocyanide have their cyanide ions very tightly bound to the iron core and 6M HCl will have difficulty
releasing the cyanide as HCN. Maybe you get a little HCN if you heat the solution, but even then do not expect a smooth and satisfactory reaction.
Ferricyanide also has the added disadvantage that the iron(III) is somewhat oxidizing and in practice, the yield will be even further reduced, due to
internal oxidation of the ion. You'll get other decomposition products.
Another problem with your suggestion is that you should not bubble the gas through aqueous KOH. The aqueous solution of KCN is quite unstable and this
solution quickly turns brown with formation of polymeric species. Better results are obtained with solutions of KOH in absolute ethanol. KCN will
precipitate from such solutions if HCN is passed through them.nezza - 31-3-2020 at 10:17
Isn't there a method for making mixed cyanides by heating ferrocyanide with sodium metal ?.Loptr - 1-4-2020 at 06:29
