In the article presented here, we are going to delve into Magnesium cyanide, a topic that has captured the attention of many people in recent years. Magnesium cyanide is a topic of great relevance and that impacts different aspects of daily life. Throughout our analysis, we will explore the different aspects related to Magnesium cyanide, from its origin and evolution, to its impact on current society. Additionally, we will try to understand how Magnesium cyanide has changed over time and what implications it has for the present. We hope that this article will be of great interest to all those who wish to expand their knowledge about Magnesium cyanide and understand its importance in today's world.
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Mg(CN)2 | |
Molar mass | 76.34 g/mol |
Appearance | White solid |
Melting point | 500 °C (932 °F; 773 K) (decomposes) |
Reacts to form magnesium hydroxide | |
Solubility in ammonia | Slightly soluble |
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Other anions
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Magnesium thiocyanate |
Other cations
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Calcium cyanide |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C , 100 kPa).
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Magnesium cyanide is a chemical compound with the formula Mg(CN)2. It is a toxic white solid. Unlike calcium isocyanide, the cyanide ligands prefer to coordinate at carbon, with a 0.3‑kcal/mol isomerization barrier. When this salt is heated to 500 °C, it decomposes to magnesium nitride.
The first attempt to prepare magnesium cyanide was attempted in 1924. It was attempted by reacting a solution of hydrogen cyanide in water with magnesium metal:
However, no magnesium cyanide was observed, only magnesium hydroxide formed. To avoid this problem, instead of using water as the reaction medium, pure ammonia was used at -30 °C. This formed magnesium cyanide ammoniate, which in turn was heated to 180 °C to produce magnesium cyanide. Other methods are possible, such as the decomposition of magnesium ferricyanide in an electric carbon tube, which produces iron carbide as a byproduct.
Magnesium cyanide reacts with silver nitrate to form magnesium silver cyanide, with the formula MgAg2(CN)4. When this compound is heated it produces hydrogen cyanide gas and magnesium hydroxide in the presence of water, which meant it could not be used as a pathway for the production of magnesium cyanide. When silver nitrate reacts with magnesium cyanide, it also produces another magnesium silver cyanide, with the formula MgAg(CN)3.