Material Safety Data Sheet
Potassium cyanide
MSDS# 19350
Section 1 - Chemical Product and Company Identification
MSDS
Potassium cyanide
Name:
AC196600000, AC196605000, AC316450000, AC316450250, AC316455000, AC388310000
Catalog
AC388310000, AC388315000, AC424100000, AC424100025, AC424100250, AC424105000
Numbers:
AC424105000, P223I-100, P223I-500
Synonyms: Cyanide of potassium; Hydrocyanic acid, potassium salt; KCN.
Fisher Scientific
Company Identification: One Reagent Lane
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
For information in the US, call: 201-796-7100
Emergency Number US: 201-796-7100
CHEMTREC Phone Number, US: 800-424-9300
Section 2 - Composition, Information on Ingredients
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CAS#: 151-50-8
Chemical Name: Potassium cyanide
%: >96
EINECS#: 205-792-3
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Hazard Symbols: T+ N
Risk Phrases: 26/27/28 32 50/53
Section 3 - Hazards Identification
EMERGENCY OVERVIEW
Danger! Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air). May be fatal if inhaled, absorbed through the skin or swallowed.
Corrosive to aluminum. Contact with acids liberates toxic gas. Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse
effects in the aquatic environment. Target Organs: Central nervous system, lungs, eyes, thyroid, skin.
Potential Health Effects
Eye: Causes eye irritation. Causes redness and pain.
May be fatal if absorbed through the skin. Contact with skin causes irritation and possible burns, especially if the
Skin:
skin is wet or moist. If absorbed, causes symptoms similar to those of ingestion.
May be fatal if swallowed. May cause tissue anoxia, characterized by weakness, headache, dizziness, confusion,
Ingestion: cyanosis (bluish skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), weak and irregular heart beat, collapse,
unconsciousness, convulsions, coma and death. May cause nausea and vomiting.
May be fatal if inhaled. Inhalation of high concentrations may cause central nervous system effects characterized
by nausea, headache, dizziness, unconsciousness and coma. Causes cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to
Inhalation:
deficient oxygenation of the blood). Causes respiratory tract irritation. May cause effects similar to those
described for ingestion.
Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis. Prolonged or repeated contact may cause skin
necrosis and/or ulceration of the skin. May be metabolized to cyanide which in turn acts by inhibiting cytochrome
oxidase impairing cellular respiration. Chronic exposure to cyanide solutions may lead to the development of a
Chronic: "cyanide" rash, characterized by itching, and by macular, papular, and vesicular eruptions, and may be
accompanied by secondary infections. Exposure to small amounts of cyanide compounds over long periods of
time is reported to cause loss of appetite, headache, weakness, nausea, dizziness, and symptoms of irritation of
the upper respiratory tract and eyes.
Section 4 - First Aid Measures
Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the upper and lower
Eyes:
eyelids. Get medical aid immediately.
Get medical aid immediately. Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while
Skin:
removing contaminated clothing and shoes.
SPEED IS ESSENTIAL. A DOCTOR MUST BE NOTIFIED AT ONCE. Call a poison control center.
Ingestion: POISON material. If swallowed, get medical aid immediately. Only induce vomiting if directed to do so by
medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
SPEED IS ESSENTIAL, OBTAIN MEDICAL AID IMMEDIATELY. POISON material. If inhaled, get
Inhalation: medical aid immediately. Remove victim to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is
difficult, give oxygen.
Notes to
Exposure should be treated as a cyanide poisoning.
Physician:
Section 5 - Fire Fighting Measures
As in any fire, wear a self-contained breathing apparatus in pressure-demand, MSHA/NIOSH
General
(approved or equivalent), and full protective gear. Combustion generates toxic fumes. Substance is
Information:
noncombustible.
Extinguishing
Use water spray to cool fire-exposed containers. Do NOT use carbon dioxide. Use alkali dry chemical.
Media:
Autoignition
Not applicable.
Temperature:
Flash Point: Not applicable.
Explosion Limits:
Not available
Lower:
Explosion Limits:
Not available
Upper:
NFPA Rating: health: 4; flammability: 0; instability: 1;
Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures
General
Use proper personal protective equipment as indicated in Section 8.
Information:
Vacuum or sweep up material and place into a suitable disposal container. Avoid generating dusty
Spills/Leaks:
conditions. Provide ventilation. Do not let this chemical enter the environment.
Section 7 - Handling and Storage
Minimize dust generation and accumulation. Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing. Do not ingest or inhale.
Handling:
Use only in a chemical fume hood.
Store in a cool, dry place. Store in a tightly closed container. Poison room locked. Keep away from acids. Do
Storage:
not store in aluminum containers.
Section 8 - Exposure Controls, Personal Protection
+-------------------- +------------------- +------------------- +----------------- +
| Chemical Name | ACGIH | NIOSH |OSHA - Final PELs|
|-------------------- |------------------- |------------------- |----------------- |
| Potassium cyanide |Skin - potential | 25 mg/m3 IDLH |5 mg/m3 TWA |
| | significant |(as CN) |(listed under |
| | contribution to | | Cyanide anion). |
| | overall exposure | | |
| |by the cutaneous | | |
| | r oute (listed | | |
| |under Hydrogen | | |
| | cyanide and | | |
| | cyanide salts); | | |
| | 5 mg/m3 Ceiling | | |
| | (as CN, listed | | |
| |under Hydrogen | | |
| | cyanide and | | |
| | cyanide salts) | | |
+-------------------- +------------------- +------------------- +----------------- +
OSHA Vacated PELs: Potassium cyanide: 5 mg/m3 TWA (as CN) (listed under Cyanide anion)
Engineering Controls:
Facilities storing or utilizing this material should be equipped with an eyewash facility and a safety shower. Use only
under a chemical fume hood.
Exposure Limits
Personal Protective Equipment
Wear appropriate protective eyeglasses or chemical safety goggles as described by OSHA's eye and face
Eyes:
protection regulations in 29 CFR 1910.133 or European Standard EN166.
Skin: Wear appropriate protective gloves to prevent skin exposure.
Clothing: Wear appropriate protective clothing to prevent skin exposure.
A respiratory protection program that meets OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.134 and ANSI Z88.2 requirements or
Respirators:
European Standard EN 149 must be followed whenever workplace conditions warrant respirator use.
Section 9 - Physical and Chemical Properties
Physical State: Crystalline powder
Color: white
Odor: faint odor of bitter almond
pH: 11 (0.1N aq soln)
Vapor Pressure: Not available
Vapor Density: Not available
Evaporation Rate: Not available
Viscosity: Not available
Boiling Point: 1625 deg C ( 2,957.00F)
Freezing/Melting Point: 634 deg C ( 1,173.20F)
Decomposition Temperature: Not available
Solubility in water: Soluble
Specific Gravity/Density: 1.52 @ 16C
Molecular Formula: KCN
Molecular Weight: 65.12
Section 10 - Stability and Reactivity
Absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. Light sensitive. Hygroscopic: absorbs moisture or water
Chemical Stability:
from the air.
Conditions to Avoid: Incompatible materials, light, dust generation, excess heat, exposure to moist air or water.
Incompatibilities with Acids, bases, aluminum, chlorates, permanganates, peroxides, zinc, aldehydes (e.g.
Other Materials acetaldehyde, acrolein, chloral, formaldehyde), metallic salts, chloral hydrate, iodine.
Hazardous Decomposition
Hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides, oxides of potassium.
Products
Hazardous Polymerization Will not occur.
Section 11 - Toxicological Information
RTECS#: CAS# 151-50-8: TS8750000
RTECS:
CAS# 151-50-8: Oral, mouse: LD50 = 8500 ug/kg;
Oral, rabbit: LD50 = 5 mg/kg;
LD50/LC50: Oral, rat: LD50 = 5 mg/kg;
Oral, rat: LD50 = 6 mg/kg;
.
Other: Human LDLo Oral: 2857 ug/kg.
Carcinogenicity: Potassium cyanide - Not listed as a carcinogen by ACGIH, IARC, NTP, or CA Prop 65.
The hazards associated with cyanide may be seen in this product. See actual entry in RTECS for complete
Other:
information.
Section 12 - Ecological Information
Ecotoxicity: Daphnia: Daphnia: 2 mg/l; 48H; EC50
Other: Do not empty into drains.
Section 13 - Disposal Considerations
Dispose of in a manner consistent with federal, state, and local regulations.
Section 14 - Transport Information
US DOT
Shipping Name: POTASSIUM CYANIDE, SOLID
Hazard Class: 6.1
UN Number: UN1680
Packing Group: I
Canada TDG
Shipping Name: POTASSIUM CYANIDE
Hazard Class: 6.192
UN Number: UN1680
Packing Group: I
USA RQ: CAS# 151-50-8: 10 lb final RQ; 4.54 kg final RQ
Section 15 - Regulatory Information
European/International Regulations
European Labeling in Accordance with EC Directives
Hazard Symbols: T+ N
Risk Phrases:
R 26/27/28 Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R 32 Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas.
R 50/53 Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.
Safety Phrases:
S 7 Keep container tightly closed.
S 28A After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of water.
S 29 Do not empty into drains.
S 45 In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately (show the label where
possible).
S 60 This material and its container must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
S 61 Avoid release to the environment. Refer to special instructions/safety data sheets.
WGK (Water Danger/Protection)
CAS# 151-50-8: 3
Canada
CAS# 151-50-8 is listed on Canada's DSL List
Canadian WHMIS Classifications: D1A, E, D2A, D2B
This product has been classified in accordance with the hazard criteria of the Controlled Products Regulations
and the MSDS contains all of the information required by those regulations.
CAS# 151-50-8 is not listed on Canada's Ingredient Disclosure List.
US Federal
TSCA
CAS# 151-50-8 is listed on the TSCA
Inventory.
Section 16 - Other Information
MSDS Creation Date: 12/23/1997
Revision #11 Date 7/20/2009
The information above is believed to be accurate and represents the best information currently available
to us. However, we make no warranty of merchantibility or any other warranty, express or implied,
with respect to such information, and we assume no liability resulting from its use. Users should make
their own investigations to determine the suitability of the information for their particular purposes. In no
event shall the company be liable for any claims, losses, or damages of any third party or for lost profits
or any special, indirect, incidental, consequential, or exemplary damages howsoever arising, even if the
company has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
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