Sodium cyanide - Definition and Overview

Sodium cyanide is a highly toxic chemical compound, also known as sodium salt of hydrocyanic acid and cyanogran. Immediate medical attention is required in the event of cyanide poisoning, as it is quickly fatal.

Sodium cyanide is used to extract gold and other precious metals from ore, and so metal mining operations consume most of the sodium cyanide production; see cyanide process for the use in gold mining. Accidents with cyanide solutions are a severe danger to aquatic ecosystems.

See also

• Summitville mine
• Potassium cyanide

External link

• Sodium cyanide hazards to fish and other wildlife from gold (http://www.cerc.cr.usgs.gov/pubs/center/pdfDocs/90972.pdf)