Price, Jack D.

English

Texas A&M University

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The Texas A&M
University System
Texas
Agricultural
Extension
DMiel C. Pfannstiel, Director
College Station 77843
Hydrogen Cyanide Safety Tips
Jack D. Price*
Hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) and its
sodium, potassium and calcium salts are among the
most potent and rapidly acting poisons known.
Cyanides are absorbed rapidly through the gastroin-
testinal tract, the lungs and the skin.
A few breaths of a high concentration of hydro-
gen cyanide, or the ingestion of 50 to 100 milligrams
of its salts, stops respiration and causes collapse. If
adequate therapy is not given immediately, death
quickly follows.
Physical Properties
Hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) is a white
liquid at temperatures below 26.5° C. (79.7°F.). The
acid is volatile and produces a highly toxic, colorless
gas. Hydrogen cyanide is infinitely soluble in water
and alcohol, and to a lesser extent in ether. The
sodium, potassium and calcium salts of hydrocyanic
acid (sodium cyanide, potassium cyanide and cal-
cium cyanide) are readily soluble in water. The salts,
odorless when dry, produce a gas (hydrogen cy-
anide) when exposed to moisture and air. The salts
absorb moisture from air and then react with CO2
(carbon dioxide) in the air to produce gaseous hydro-
gen cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide also is liberated by
treating the salts with acids. The gas has the distinc-
tive odor of bitter almonds or "peach pits." Strong
solutions of hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) are
corrosive to the skin in addition to the hazard of
poisoning through absorption. The salts are available
in various forms (granules, powder and solid).
"Extension agricultural chemist, The Texas A&M University
System.
Physical state
Formula
Estimated fatal dose
Calcium cyanide
white powder
(amorphous)
Ca(CNh
not reported
Potassium cyanide
white crystalline
solid
KCN
0.25 gram*
Sodium cyanide
white crystalline
solid
NaCN
0.25 gram*
*Approximate; fatalities reportedly have resulted from one-fourth of this amount (reference 8).
Symptoms of Poisoning
Poisoning symptoms in humans include an in-
creased respiration followed by slow, shallow, irregu-
lar breathing, unconsciousness and convulsions.
Other symptoms include constriction of the throat,
fullness or flushing of the head, anxiety, confusion,
dizziness, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Low
concentrations produce nausea, headache, dizziness
and a feeling of suffocation. A bitter, acrid, burning
taste sometimes is noted upon ingestion.
Death occurs with asphyxial symptoms since the
cyanide acts as a chemical asphyxiant, depriving
tissues of necessary oxygen.
Care, Handling, Storage
1. Be familiar with all information on the product
label. Use all protective measures and follow
directions carefully. If gas mask protection is
suggested, obtain an appropriate type of mask
and use it properly.
2. Handle only the amount of cyanide required at
a given time.
3. Do not get in eyes or on skin or clothing. In
case of contact, remove clothing and wash
thoroughly.
4. Avoid contact with the skin-use gloves. If
gloves are exposed to cyanides through spills
etc., destroy them. Contaminated gloves can
be a source of continuous exposure while
worn.
5. Goggles will afford protection to the eyes.
6. A 10I).g-sleeved shirt or jacket buttoned at the
collar minimizes skin exposure.
7. In the event of skin exposure, remove con-
taminated clothing immediately and thor-
oughly wash exposed areas of the skin with
soap and water.
8. Good habits of personal hygiene are essential.
Do not smoke, eat or chew while working with
cyanide salts.
9. Wash thoroughly with soap and water follow-
ing the use of cyanides.
10. The cyanide salts emit hydrocyanic acid easily.
The gas is highly toxic and flammable. Main-
tain cyanides in sound, tightly closed contain-
ers in a dry, cool, well-ventilated storage unit
out of direct sunlight and away from fire
hazards. Secure and identify the storage unit.
11. Inventory all cyanides.
Emergency Treatment
The success of first aid efforts or other treatment
is related to the speed of handling the emergency
situation. The following is quoted from the label of a
sodium cyanide salt:
"If swallowed or inhaled, prompt treatment is of
the utmost importance. Carry patient to fresh air,
have him lie down. Patient should breathe the
contents of an Amyl.Nitrite pearl 15-30 seconds each
minute if necessary, until five pearls have been used.
Use artificial respiration if breathing has stopped.
Remove contaminated clothing, ~ut keep patient
warm.
CALL A PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY.
If on skin, immediately flush with plenty of
water.
If in eyes, immediately flush with plenty of water
and call a physician."
You may wish to contact your family physician
about your work with cyanide salts and for additional
information regarding amyl nitrite ampuls.
Selected References
1. Arena, J. M. and Charles E. Thomas, Poisoning.
1963.
2. Gleason, M. N., R. E. Gosselin, and H. C.
Hodge, Clinical Toxicology of Commerical Products.
Second Edition. (Baltimore: The Williams &
Wilkins Company, 1963).
3. The Merck Index. Seventh Edition. (Rahway,
New Jersey: Merck and Company, Inc., 1960).
4. Sax, LN., Dangerous Properties of Industrial Mate-
rials. Third Edition. Reinhold Book Corporation.
5. Sollmann, T., A Manual of Pharmacology. Eighth
Edition. (Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders and
Company, 1957).
6. Sterner, J. H., "The Cyanides and Cyanogen
Compounds," Chapter XX, Industrial Hygiene
and Toxicology. Vol. IL, Frank Patty, ed. (New
York: Interscience, 1949).
7. Stewart, C. P., and A. Stallmann, Toxicology.
Vol. L Academic Press, Inc., 1960.
8. Thienes, C. H., and T. J. Haley, Clinical Toxicolo-
gy. Fifth Edition. (Philadelphia: Lea, Command
and Febiger, 1972).
Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension
Service serve people of all ages regardless of socia-economic level, race,
color, sex, religion or national origin.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics,
The Texas A&M University System and the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the
Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914.
2.5M-5-BO, Revision Chern 4


Hydrogen Cyanide Safety Tips.

Texas A&amp;M Repository

o,,~••-- --, J~'.~"~,.The Texas A&MUniversity SystemTexasAgriculturalExtensionDMiel C. Pfannstiel, DirectorCollege Station 77843Hydrogen Cyanide Safety TipsJack D. Price*Hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) and itssodium, potassium and calcium salts are among themost potent and rapidly acting poisons known.Cyanides are absorbed rapidly through the gastroin-testinal tract, the lungs and the skin.A few breaths of a high concentration of hydro-gen cyanide, or the ingestion of 50 to 100 milligramsof its salts, stops respiration and causes collapse. Ifadequate therapy is not given immediately, deathquickly follows.Physical PropertiesHydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) is a whiteliquid at temperatures below 26.5° C. (79.7°F.). Theacid is volatile and produces a highly toxic, colorlessgas. Hydrogen cyanide is infinitely soluble in waterand alcohol, and to a lesser extent in ether. Thesodium, potassium and calcium salts of hydrocyanicacid (sodium cyanide, potassium cyanide and cal-cium cyanide) are readily soluble in water. The salts,odorless when dry, produce a gas (hydrogen cy-anide) when exposed to moisture and air. The saltsabsorb moisture from air and then react with CO2(carbon dioxide) in the air to produce gaseous hydro-gen cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide also is liberated bytreating the salts with acids. The gas has the distinc-tive odor of bitter almonds or "peach pits." Strongsolutions of hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) arecorrosive to the skin in addition to the hazard ofpoisoning through absorption. The salts are availablein various forms (granules, powder and solid)."Extension agricultural chemist, The Texas A&M UniversitySystem.Physical stateFormulaEstimated fatal doseCalcium cyanidewhite powder(amorphous)Ca(CNhnot reportedPotassium cyanidewhite crystallinesolidKCN0.25 gram*Sodium cyanidewhite crystallinesolidNaCN0.25 gram**Approximate; fatalities reportedly have resulted from one-fourth of this amount (reference 8).Symptoms of PoisoningPoisoning symptoms in humans include an in-creased respiration followed by slow, shallow, irregu-lar breathing, unconsciousness and convulsions.Other symptoms include constriction of the throat,fullness or flushing of the head, anxiety, confusion,dizziness, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Lowconcentrations produce nausea, headache, dizzinessand a feeling of suffocation. A bitter, acrid, burningtaste sometimes is noted upon ingestion.Death occurs with asphyxial symptoms since thecyanide acts as a chemical asphyxiant, deprivingtissues of necessary oxygen.Care, Handling, Storage1. Be familiar with all information on the productlabel. Use all protective measures and followdirections carefully. If gas mask protection issuggested, obtain an appropriate type of maskand use it properly.2. Handle only the amount of cyanide required ata given time.3. Do not get in eyes or on skin or clothing. Incase of contact, remove clothing and washthoroughly.4. Avoid contact with the skin-use gloves. Ifgloves are exposed to cyanides through spillsetc., destroy them. Contaminated gloves canbe a source of continuous exposure whileworn.5. Goggles will afford protection to the eyes.6. A 10I).g-sleeved shirt or jacket buttoned at thecollar minimizes skin exposure.7. In the event of skin exposure, remove con-taminated clothing immediately and thor-oughly wash exposed areas of the skin withsoap and water.8. Good habits of personal hygiene are essential.Do not smoke, eat or chew while working withcyanide salts.9. Wash thoroughly with soap and water follow-ing the use of cyanides.10. The cyanide salts emit hydrocyanic acid easily.The gas is highly toxic and flammable. Main-tain cyanides in sound, tightly closed contain-ers in a dry, cool, well-ventilated storage unitout of direct sunlight and away from firehazards. Secure and identify the storage unit.11. Inventory all cyanides.Emergency TreatmentThe success of first aid efforts or other treatmentis related to the speed of handling the emergencysituation. The following is quoted from the label of asodium cyanide salt:"If swallowed or inhaled, prompt treatment is ofthe utmost importance. Carry patient to fresh air,have him lie down. Patient should breathe thecontents of an Amyl.Nitrite pearl 15-30 seconds eachminute if necessary, until five pearls have been used.Use artificial respiration if breathing has stopped.Remove contaminated clothing, ~ut keep patientwarm.CALL A PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY.If on skin, immediately flush with plenty ofwater.If in eyes, immediately flush with plenty of waterand call a physician."You may wish to contact your family physicianabout your work with cyanide salts and for additionalinformation regarding amyl nitrite ampuls.Selected References1. Arena, J. M. and Charles E. Thomas, Poisoning.1963.2. Gleason, M. N., R. E. Gosselin, and H. C.Hodge, Clinical Toxicology of Commerical Products.Second Edition. (Baltimore: The Williams &Wilkins Company, 1963).3. The Merck Index. Seventh Edition. (Rahway,New Jersey: Merck and Company, Inc., 1960).4. Sax, LN., Dangerous Properties of Industrial Mate-rials. Third Edition. Reinhold Book Corporation.5. Sollmann, T., A Manual of Pharmacology. EighthEdition. (Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders andCompany, 1957).6. Sterner, J. H., "The Cyanides and CyanogenCompounds," Chapter XX, Industrial Hygieneand Toxicology. Vol. IL, Frank Patty, ed. (NewYork: Interscience, 1949).7. Stewart, C. P., and A. Stallmann, Toxicology.Vol. L Academic Press, Inc., 1960.8. Thienes, C. H., and T. J. Haley, Clinical Toxicolo-gy. Fifth Edition. (Philadelphia: Lea, Commandand Febiger, 1972).Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural ExtensionService serve people of all ages regardless of socia-economic level, race,color, sex, religion or national origin.Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics,The Texas A&M University System and the United States Depart-ment of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of theActs of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914.2.5M-5-BO, Revision Chern 4

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Hydrogen Cyanide Safety Tips.

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Hydrogen Cyanide Safety Tips.

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