Page 362 - Handbook of Hazardous Chemical Properties

352 SODIUM CYANIDE
a physician: wash contaminated skin or clothing until chromate color disappears; Toxicity by Inhalation
(ThresholdLimit Value): Data not available; Short-Term Exposure Limits: Data not available; Tmkity
by Ingestion: Grade 3, LD,, 50-500 mgkg; Late Toxicity: Possible lung cancer; Vizpor (Gas) Irritant
Characteristics: Data not available; Liquid or Solid Irritant Characteristics: Data not available; Odor
Threshold Data not available.
Fire Hazards - Fhh Point : Not flammable; Flammable Limits in Air (96): Not flammable; Fire
Extinguishing Agents: Not pertinent; Fire Extinguishing &ems Not To Be Used: Not pertinent; Special
Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic chromium oxide fiunes may form in fires; Behavior in Fire:
Can increase the intensity of fires when in contact with combustible materials; Ignition Temperature
.- Not pertinent; Electrical Hazard: Not pertinent; Burning Rate: Not pertinent.
Chemical Reactivity -Reactivity with Water: No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: Causes
fire when in contact with combustible materials; Stability During Tramport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents
for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not
pertinent.

SODIUM CYANIDE
Chemical Designations - Synonyms: Hydrocyanic acid; Chemical Formula: NaCN.
Observable Characteristics - Physical State (as rwmlly shipped): Solid; Color: White; Odor:
Odorless when dry. When moist it has a slight odor of hydrocyanic acid.
Physical and Chemical Properties - Physical State at I5 "c and I atm. : Solid; Molecular Weight:
49.01; Boiling Point at I atm.: Very high; Freezing Point: 1047, 564, 837; Critical Temperature: Not
pertinent; Critical Pressure: Not pertinent; Specific Gravity: 1.60 at 25 "C (solid); Vapor (Gas)
Density: Not pertinent; Ratio of Specific Heats of Vapor (Gas): Not pertinent; Latent Heat of
Vaporization: Not pertinent; Heat of Combustion: Not pertinent; Heat ofDecomposition: Not pertinent.
Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment: Protective gloves when
handling solid sodium cyanide; rubber gloves when handling cyanide solutions (wash hands and rubber
gloves thoroughly with running water after handling cyanides); U. S. Bureau of Mines approved dust
respirator; approved chemical safety goggles; Symptoms Following Exposure: As little as 180
milligrams is a rapidly fatal poison if ingested non-lethal doses may cause toxic symptoms. Strong
water solutions, or the solid itself, can be absorbed by the skin and cause deep ulcers which heal
slowly; General Treatment for Exposure: INGESTION: start treatment immediately; call a physician;
carry victim to fresh air; have him lie down; keep him quiet and warm until physician arrives. If victim
is conscious and breathing: induce vomiting by giving emetic of warm salt water ( 1 tablespoon salt/cup
water) repeat until vomit fluid is clear; then have victim drink one pint of 1% solution of sodium
thiosulfate, to be repealed in 15 min. If victim has stopped breathing: give artificial respiration until
breathing starts. If victim is unconscious but breathing: give oxygen from an inhalator. For all of above
conditions, have victim breathe amyl nitrite. Break nitrite pearl in a cloth and hold lightly under
victim's nose for 15 sec., repeating 5 times at about 15-sec. intervals, If necessary repeat this procedure
every 3 min. with fresh pearls until 3 or 4 have been given. (Pearls must not be over 2 years old. Avoid
breathing amyl nitrite while administering it to victim.); Toxicity by Inhalation (ThreshoMLimit Value):
Not pertinent; Short-Term Exposure Limits: Not pertinent; Toxicity by Ingestion: Grade 4, bellow 50
mg/kg; Late Toxicity: None; Vapor (Gas) Irritant Characteristics: Non-volatile, but moisture in air
liberate some lethal hydrogen cyanide gas; Liquid or Solid Irritant Characteristics: Fairly severe skin
irritant; may cause pain and second-degree burns after a few minutes contact; Odor Z%reshold Not
pertinent.
Fire Hazards - Flash Point : Not flammable; Flamrnable Limits in Air (%): Not flammable; Fire
Extinguishing Agents: Not pertinent; Fire Extinguishing Agents Not To Be Used: Not pertinent; Special
Hazards of Combustion Products: Not pertinent; Behavior in Fire: Not pertinent; Ignition Temperature
: Not flammable; Electrical Hazard: Not pertinent; Burning Rate: Not pertinent.
Chemical Reactivity -Reactivity with Water: When sodium cyanide dissolves in water, a mild reaction
occurs and some poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas is liberated. The gas is not generally a concern unless
it is generated in an enclosed space. If the water is acidic, then large amounts of the toxic gas forms