Sodium cyanide

Sodium Cyanide

Sodium cyanide (pronounced: /ˈsoʊdiəm ˈsaɪəˌnaɪd/) is a highly toxic, white, water-soluble salt. It is used primarily in gold mining, but also has applications in other industries such as the production of dyes and pharmaceuticals.

Etymology

The term "sodium cyanide" is derived from the elements that make up the compound: sodium (Na) and cyanide (CN). The word "sodium" comes from the English word "soda", as it was first isolated from caustic soda. The term "cyanide" is derived from the Greek word "kyanos", meaning "dark blue", due to its ability to form blue compounds.

Usage

Sodium cyanide is primarily used in the mining industry to extract gold and other precious metals from ore. It is mixed with water and the resulting solution is used to leach the metal from the ore in a process known as cyanide leaching.

In addition to mining, sodium cyanide is also used in the production of dyes and pharmaceuticals. It is a key ingredient in the synthesis of certain organic compounds.

Safety and Toxicity

Sodium cyanide is highly toxic and exposure can be lethal. It inhibits the body's ability to use oxygen, leading to tissue hypoxia. Symptoms of exposure can include headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness. In severe cases, it can cause death.

Related Terms

• Cyanide
• Cyanide leaching
• Sodium
• Mining
• Dyes
• Pharmaceuticals

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Sodium cyanide
• Wikipedia's article - Sodium cyanide

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski