Mercuric cyanide

252.62

253.97700

209-741-6

1636

DTXSID3060457

Colorless, tetragonal crystals or white powder|Transparent prisms

2837199090

47.58000

0.03106

White Fine Crystalline Powder

4.00 g/cm³ @ Temp: 20 °C

320 °C (decomp)

Decomposes

1.645

g/100g solution H2O: 6.31 (0°C)

Poison room

Oral-Rat  LD50: 26 mg/kg; Oral-Mouse LD50: 33 mg/kg

Non-combustible substance; emits toxic and flammable hydrogen cyanide gas in contact with water and acid; generates toxic cyanide and mercury vapor when heated

Odorless

Light sensitive|When heated, it decomposes to mercury and cyanide and may explode if detonated.

Soluble in water. Gradually decomposed by water to give off hydrogen cyanide, a flammable poison gas.

Cyanides, Inorganic

MERCURIC CYANIDE is rapidly decomposed by acids to give off hydrogen cyanide, a flammable poison gas. Decomposed in the light. May tend to explosive instability. Capable of violent reaction with oxidizing agents. Fusion with metal chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates or nitrites can cause a violent explosion [Bretherick 1979. p. 101].

II

6.1(a)

UN 1636 6.1/PG 2

3

26/27/28-32-50/53

7-28-29-45-60-61

OW1515000

T+,N

Treasury is ventilated, low temperature and dry; stored separately from alkali, acid and food additives

Friction, heated, shock sensitive explosion

P260-P280-P301 + P310 + P330-P302 + P352 + P310-P304 + P340 + P310-P403 + P233

H300 + H310 + H330-H373-H410

Generators of waste (equal to or greater than 100 kg/mo) containing this contaminant, EPA hazardous waste number P030, D003, must conform with USEPA regulations in storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste.|Generators of waste (equal to or greater than 100 kg/mo) containing this contaminant, EPA hazardous waste number D009, must conform with USEPA regulations in storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste.|Cyanide salts should not be flushed into any drain which may contain or subsequently receive acid waste. ... Cyanide process waste solutions and flushings from spills should be passed through a cyanide waste disposal system. /Cyanide salts/

FLUORINE & MERCURIC CYANIDE REACT VIGOROUSLY WHEN GENTLY HEATED, PRODUCING FLAMES.|Magnesium reacts with incandescence on heating with ... copper cyanide, nickel cyanide and zinc cyanide. With gold cyanide or mercury cyanide, the cyanogen released by thermal decomposition of these salts reacts explosively with magnesium.|Mixtures of sodium nitrite and various cyanides explode on heating, including potassium cyanide ... or mercury(II) cyanide.|Fusion of mixtures of metal cyanides with metal chlorates, perchlorates, or nitrates ... causes a violent explosion. /Metal cyanides/|For more Hazardous Reactivities and Incompatibilities (Complete) data for MERCURIC CYANIDE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

USEPA; Ambient Water Quality Criteria Doc: Cyanides (1980) EPA 440/5-80-037|Nat'l Research Council Canada; Effects of Cyanides on Aquatic Organisms with Emphasis Upon Fresh Water Fishes (1982) NRCC No.19246|USEPA; Ambient Water Quality Criteria Doc: Cyanide (1984) EPA 440/5-84-028|NIOSH; Criteria Document: Hydrogen Cyanide and Cyanide Salts (1976) DHEW Pub. NIOSH 77-108|DHHS/ATSDR; Toxicological Profile for Cyanide (Update) TP-92/09 (1993)

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Fumes from fire may contain toxic mercury and hydrogen cyanide. (USCG, 1999)|Reactive - 1st degree

|Danger|H300+H310+H330 (92.68%): Fatal if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled [Danger Acute toxicity, oral; acute toxicity, dermal; acute toxicity, inhalation]|P260, P262, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P284, P301+P310, P302+P350, P304+P340, P310, P314, P320, P321, P322, P330, P361, P363, P391, P403+P233, P405, and P501|Aggregated GHS information provided by 41 companies from 2 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.|H300: Fatal if swallowed [Danger Acute toxicity, oral]|P201, P202, P260, P261, P264, P270, P272, P280, P281, P301+P310, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P307+P311, P308+P313, P314, P321, P330, P332+P313, P333+P313, P337+P313, P363, P405, and P501

Excerpt from ERG Guide 154 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Non-Combustible)]: As an immediate precautionary measure, isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids. SPILL: Increase, in the downwind direction, as necessary, the isolation distance shown above. FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2016)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 154 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Non-Combustible)]: ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames in immediate area). Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. Absorb or cover with dry earth, sand or other non-combustible material and transfer to containers. DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE CONTAINERS. (ERG, 2016)

Dust mask; goggles or face shield; rubber gloves (USCG, 1999)|Chemical safety goggles shall be worn by employees engaged in any operation wherein there is danger or likelihood that dusts or solutions of cyanide salts will come into contact with the eye. Full-length face shields with forehead protection shall be worn by employees engaged in any operation wherein there is danger or likelihood that dusts, molten salts, or solutions of cyanide salts may contact the face. /Cyanide salts/|Respirator Selection: Less than or equal to 25 mg/cu m: (1) Filter type respirators, approved for toxic dust, with half-mask (not applicable for calcium cyanide). (2) Chemical cartridge respirators with replaceable cartridge for toxic dusts and acid gases; With half-mask. Maximum service life 4 hr. Less than or equal to 50 mg/cu m: (1) Full-face gas mask, chest or back mounted type, with industrial size canister for toxic dust and hydrocyanic acid gas. Maximum service life 2 hr. (2) Type C supplied air-respirator, continuous-flow or pressure-demand type (positive pressure) with full facepiece. (3) Type A supplied-air respirator, (hose mask with blower) with full facepiece. Greater than 50 mg/cu m: (1) Self-contained breathing apparatus with positive pressure in full facepiece. (2) Combination supplied-air respirator pressure-demand type with auxiliary self-contained air supply. Emergency (no concentration limit): (1) Self-contained breathing apparatus with positive pressure in facepiece. (2) Combination supplied-air respirator, pressure-demand type, with auxiliary self-contained air supply. Evacuation or Escape (no concentration limit): (1) Self-contained breathing apparatus in demand or pressure-demand mode (negative or positive pressure). (2) Full-face gas mask, front or back mount type with industrial size canister for toxic dust and hydrocyanic acid gas. /Cyanide salts/|WHERE SKIN CAN BE EXPOSED ... PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, INCLUDING IMPERVIOUS HAND PROTECTION, SHOULD BE PROVIDED. /CYANIDES/

Not flammable

Approach fire from upwind to avoid hazardous vapors and toxic decomposition products. Extinguish fire using agent suitable for surrounding fire. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool.|If material involved in fire: Extinguish fire using agent suitable for type of surrounding fire. (Material itself does not burn or burns with difficulty.) Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Use "alcohol" foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.|Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers must not be used where cyanide salts are present. /Cyanide salts/

Environmental considerations: Land spill; Dig a pit, pond, lagoon, or holding area to contain liquid or solid material. /SRP: If time permits, pits, ponds, lagoons, soak holes, or holding areas should be sealed with an impermeable flexible membrane liner./ Cover solids with a plastic sheet to prevent dissolving in rain or fire-fighting water.|Environmental considerations: Water spill; Add caustic soda (sodium hydroxide). If dissolved, apply sodium sulfide solution to precipitate heavy metals. Add calcium hypochlorite. If dissolved, in region of 10 ppm or greater concentration, apply activated carbon at ten times the spilled amount. Adjust pH to neutral (pH 7). Use mechanical dredges or lifts to remove immobilized masses of pollutants and precipitates.|WASTE CYANIDE SALTS FROM CASE HARDENING OF STEEL ARE DESTROYED BY REACTING THE SALTS AT 650-700 DEG WITH WASTE FERRIC HYDROXIDE SLUDGES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. /Cyanide salts/|Spills of cyanide salts should be immediately and carefully cleaned up by shoveling the material into a proper container. Care must be exercised to minimize any dispersal of cyanide dust into the air. /Cyanide salts/|For more Cleanup Methods (Complete) data for MERCURIC CYANIDE (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

PERSONS WHO WORK WITH & AROUND CYANIDE PREPN SHOULD BE GIVEN SPECIFIC DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON MANAGEMENT OF CYANIDE POISONING. /CYANIDES/|Eyewash facilities and emergency showers shall be provided in areas where contact with ... cyanide salts as either solids or solutions is likely. Work clothing which has been contaminated by absorption of, or contact with, cyanide shall be thoroughly laundered before it is worn again. /Hydrogen cyanide & cyanide salts/|If the clothing is to be laundered or otherwise cleaned to remove the cyanide, the person performing the operation should be informed of cyanide's hazardous properties. /Cyanides/|Two physician's treatment kits shall be immediately available to trained medical personnel at each plant where there is a potential for the release of, accidental or otherwise, or for contact with, hydrogen cyanide or cyanide salts. ... First-aid kits shall be immediately available at workplaces where there is potential for the release, accidental or otherwise, of hydrogen cyanide or a potential for exposure to cyanide salts. ... Pertinent medical records shall be maintained for 5 years following the last exposure to hydrogen cyanide or cyanide salts. /Hydrogen cyanide & cyanide salts/|For more Preventive Measures (Complete) data for MERCURIC CYANIDE (13 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

/GUIDE 154: SUBSTANCES - TOXIC AND/OR CORROSIVE (NON-COMBUSTIBLE)/ Health: TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution.|/GUIDE 154: SUBSTANCES - TOXIC AND/OR CORROSIVE (NON-COMBUSTIBLE)/ Fire or Explosion: Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes. Some are oxidizers and may ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated.|/GUIDE 154: SUBSTANCES - TOXIC AND/OR CORROSIVE (NON-COMBUSTIBLE)/ Public Safety: CALL Emergency Response Telephone Number ... . As an immediate precautionary measure, isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids. Keep unauthorized personnel away. Stay upwind. Keep out of low areas. Ventilate enclosed areas.|/GUIDE 154: SUBSTANCES - TOXIC AND/OR CORROSIVE (NON-COMBUSTIBLE)/ Protective Clothing: Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer. It may provide little or no thermal protection. Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides limited protection in fire situations ONLY; it is not effective in spill situations where direct contact with the substance is possible.|For more DOT Emergency Guidelines (Complete) data for MERCURIC CYANIDE (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

No person may /transport,/ offer or accept a hazardous material for transportation in commerce unless that person is registered in conformance ... and the hazardous material is properly classed, described, packaged, marked, labeled, and in condition for shipment as required or authorized by ... /the hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR 171-177)./|The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations are published by the IATA Dangerous Goods Board pursuant to IATA Resolutions 618 and 619 and constitute a manual of industry carrier regulations to be followed by all IATA Member airlines when transporting hazardous materials.|The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code lays down basic principles for transporting hazardous chemicals. Detailed recommendations for individual substances and a number of recommendations for good practice are included in the classes dealing with such substances. A general index of technical names has also been compiled. This index should always be consulted when attempting to locate the appropriate procedures to be used when shipping any substance or article.

/Solid is/ irritating to skin & eyes.

Permissible Exposure Limit: Table Z-1 8-hr Time-Weighted Avg: 5 mg/cu m. Skin Designation. /Cyanides, as CN/|Vacated 1989 OSHA PEL still enforced in some states: Hg vapor, TWA 0.05 mg/cu m, skin; Non-alkyl cmpds, Ceiling 0.1 mg/cu m, skin. /Mercury cmpd, as Hg, (except (organo) alkyls)/

Recommended Exposure Limit: 10 Hr Time-Weighted Avg: 0.05 mg/cu m, skin (Hg vapor). /Mercury [except (organo) alkyls] (as Hg)/|Recommended Exposure Limit: Ceiling Value: 0.1 mg/cu m, skin. /Mercury compounds [except (organo) alkyls] (as Hg)/

Listed as a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) generally known or suspected to cause serious health problems. The Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990, directs EPA to set standards requiring major sources to sharply reduce routine emissions of toxic pollutants. EPA is required to establish and phase in specific performance based standards for all air emission sources that emit one or more of the listed pollutants. Mercuric cyanide is included on this list.

P030; An acute hazardous waste when a discarded commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate or an off-specification commercial chemical product or a manufacturing chemical intermediate. /Cyanides, soluble salts, NOS/|D003; /SRP:/ A waste containing mercuric cyanide may (or may not) be characterized a hazardous waste following testing for the reactivity characteristics as prescribed by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations.|D009; Mercury. A waste containing mercury may or may not be characterized as a hazardous waste following testing by the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure as prescribed by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations. /Mercury/

Persons in charge of vessels or facilities are required to notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately, when there is a release of this designated hazardous substance, in an amount equal to or greater than its reportable quantity of 1 lb or 0.454 kg. The toll free number of the NRC is (800) 424-8802; In the Washington D.C. metropolitan area (202) 426-2675. The rule for determining when notification is required is stated in 40 CFR 302.4 (section IV. D.3.b).

P030; As stipulated in 40 CFR 261.33, when mercuric cyanide, as a commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate or an off-specification commercial chemical product or a manufacturing chemical intermediate, becomes a waste, it must be managed according to federal and/or state hazardous waste regulations. Also defined as a hazardous waste is any container or inner liner used to hold this waste or any residue, contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill, into water or on dry land, of this waste. Generators of small quantities of this waste may qualify for partial exclusion from hazardous waste regulations (40 CFR 261.5(e)). /Cyanides (soluble salts), NOS/|/SRP:/ D003; A solid waste containing cyanide may become characterized as a hazardous waste when subjected to testing for reactivity as stipulated in 40 CFR 261.23, and if so characterized, must be managed as a hazardous waste. /Cyanide/|D009; A solid waste containing mercury may or may not become characterized as a hazardous waste when subjected to the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure listed in 40 CFR 261.24, and if so characterized, must be managed as a hazardous waste. /Mercury/

In the atmosphere, particulate bound mercury constitutes only approximately 2% of total mercury in the air and has normally been found to be less than 0.1 ng/cu m in regions unaffected by local sources(1). Some other mercury compounds which may exist in the atmosphere are mercuric chloride, mercuric bromide, mercuric hydroxide, mercuric sulfide, and mercuric cyanide(1). The rest is elemental mercury in the gaseous phase. In remote areas over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, mercury bound to particulate matter concns are generally at or below the picogram per cubic meter level(1).

most toxic

LD50 Mouse oral 33 mg/kg|LD50 Dog sc 2710 ug/kg

WORKERS WITH CHRONIC DISEASES OF KIDNEYS, RESPIRATORY TRACT, SKIN OR THYROID ARE @ GREATER RISK OF DEVELOPING TOXIC CYANIDE EFFECTS THAN ARE HEALTHY WORKERS. /CYANIDES/

Mercuric compounds found in the atmosphere are likely to be transformed by chemical or physical processes. Theoretical calculations on the photodissociation of mercuric compounds have indicated that mercuric chloride and mercuric cyanide are stable, while mercuric hydroxide may dissociate in the gas phase(1). Exchange reactions between water and mercury compounds are likely to occur in the atmosphere(1). The result of these exchange reactions eventually results in the release of elemental mercury into the gaseous phase.

Systemic poisoning can occur by absorption through the skin.

MEDICATION (VET): Has been used as topical antiseptic|MEDICATION (VET): OCCASIONALLY AS DOUCHE. USE SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL DANGER OF SIMULTANEOUS POISONING FROM BOTH IONS.

CYANIDE ION IS READILY ABSORBED AFTER ORAL OR PARENTERAL ADMIN. PROLONGED LOCAL CONTACT WITH CYANIDE SOLN OR WITH HYDROGEN CYANIDE MAY RESULT IN ABSORPTION OF TOXIC AMT THROUGH SKIN. ... PART OF ABSORBED CYANIDE IS EXCRETED UNCHANGED BY THE LUNG. LARGER PORTION ... CONVERTED BY ... SULFURTRANSFERASE TO RELATIVELY NONTOXIC THIOCYANATE ION. /CYANIDE/|IN 30 DAYS, 72% OF (14)C FROM IP DOSE OF (14)C-CYANIDE TO MICE WAS EXCRETED IN URINE & FECES, 25% IN EXPIRED AIR, & 3% WAS RETAINED ... PEAK EXCRETION OCCURRED WITHIN 10 MIN IN EXPIRED AIR & WITHIN 6-24 HR IN URINE & FECES. /CYANIDE/|CYANIDES ARE RAPIDLY ABSORBED FROM SKIN & ALL MUCOSAL SURFACES & ARE MOST DANGEROUS WHEN INHALED, BECAUSE TOXIC AMT ARE ABSORBED THROUGH BRONCHIAL MUCOSA & ALVEOLI. /CYANIDES/|Cyanide is distributed to all organs and tissues via the blood, where its concn in red cells is greater than that in plasma by a factor of two or three. Presumably, the accumulation of cyanide in erythrocytes is a reflection of its binding to methemoglobin. /Cyanides/|For more Absorption, Distribution and Excretion (Complete) data for MERCURIC CYANIDE (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

... CYANIDE ION IS CONJUGATED WITH SULFUR TO FORM THIOCYANATE. ... CONJUGATION IS CATALYZED BY ... RHODANESE WHICH IS WIDELY DISTRIBUTED IN MOST ANIMAL TISSUES ... /LIVER/ PARTICULARLY ACTIVE. ... RHODANESE MECHANISM IS CAPABLE OF DETOXICATING ONLY LIMITED AMT OF CYANIDE, SUCH AS ARE FORMED DURING NORMAL METAB. /SRP: ANOTHER SULFUR DONOR IS 3-MERCAPTOPYRUVATE. THE ENZYME, MERCAPTOSULFUR TRANSFERASE IS LOCALIZED IN CYTOSOL./ /CYANIDE/|/ONE OF/ THE MAJOR MECHANISM/S/ FOR REMOVING CYANIDE FROM THE BODY IS ITS ENZYMATIC CONVERSION, BY THE MITOCHONDRIAL ENZYME RHODANESE (TRANSSULFURASE), TO THIOCYANATE, WHICH IS RELATIVELY ... /LESS TOXIC/. /CYANIDE/

Half-life for the conversion of cyanide to thiocyanate from a non-lethal dose in man is between 20 min and 1 hr. /Cyanide/

CYANIDE HAS VERY HIGH AFFINITY FOR IRON IN FERRINC STATE. WHEN ABSORBED /CYANIDE/ ... REACTS READILY WITH ... IRON OF CYTOCHROME OXIDASE IN MITOCHONDRIA; CELLULAR RESPIRATION IS THUS INHIBITED & CYTOTOXIC HYPOXIA RESULTS. SINCE UTILIZATION OF OXYGEN IS BLOCKED, VENOUS BLOOD IS OXYGENATED AND IS ALMOST AS BRIGHT RED AS ARTERIAL BLOOD. RESPIRATION IS STIMULATED BECAUSE CHEMORECEPTIVE CELLS RESPOND AS THEY DO TO DECREASED OXYGEN. A TRANSIENT STAGE OF CNS STIMULATION WITH HYPERPNEA AND HEADACHE IS OBSERVED; FINALLY THERE ARE HYPOXIC CONVULSIONS AND DEATH DUE TO RESPIRATORY ARREST. /CYANIDE/|THE CORTICAL GRAY MATTER, HIPPOCAMPUS (H1), CORPORA STRIATA, & SUBSTANTIA NIGRA ARE COMMONLY AFFECTED /BY CYANIDE/. ... CYANIDE ALSO HAS PROPENSITY FOR DAMAGING WHITE MATTER, PARTICULARLY CORPUS CALLOSUM. CYANIDE INHIBITS CYTOCHROME OXIDASE & PRODUCES CYTOTOXIC ANOXIA, BUT ALSO CAUSES HYPOTENSION THROUGH ITS EFFECTS ON HEART. /CYANIDE/|SINGLE DOSES OF CYANIDE PRODUCE ALTERATIONS IN PATTERN OF BRAIN METABOLITES CONSISTENT WITH DECR IN OXIDATIVE METABOLISM & INCR IN GLYCOLYSIS. DECR IN BRAIN GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID ... HAVE BEEN ASCRIBED TO CYANIDE INHIBITION OF GLUTAMIC ACID DECARBOXYLASE. /CYANIDE/|The cyanide ion (CN-) forms complexes with a number of other chemicals (eg, in tissues) and has a strong affinity for cobalt. /Cyanide ion/|/CYANIDE/ ... REACTS ... WITH TRIVALENT IRON OF CYTOCHROME OXIDASE IN MITOCHONDRIA TO FORM THE CYTOCHROME OXIDASE-CN COMPLEX ... THE CYTOCHROME-OXIDASE-CN COMPLEX IS DISSOCIABLE; THE MITOCHONDRIAL ENZYME SULFURTRANSFERASE ... MEDIATES TRANSFER OF SULFUR FROM THIOSULFATE TO CYANIDE ION. THUS, THIOCYANATE IS FORMED ... KINETIC STUDIES INDICATE THAT THE CLEAVAGE OF THE THIOSULFATE SULFUR-SULFUR BOND IS THE RATE-LIMITING STEP IN THIS REACTION. RELATIVELY MINOR PATHWAYS INCL COMBINATION WITH CYSTINE TO FORM 2-IMINO-THIAZOLIDINE-4-CARBOXYLIC ACID, OXIDATION TO CARBON DIOXIDE & FORMATE, & FORMATION OF CYANOCOBALAMIN. /CYANIDE/

Symptoms of both cyanide and mercury intoxication can occur. Acute poisoning has resulted from inhaling dust concentrations of 1.2-8.5 mg/m 3 of air; symptoms include tightness and pain in chest, coughing, and difficul ty in breathing; cyanide poisoning can cause anxiety, confusion, dizziness, and shortness of breath, with possible unconsciousness, convulsions, and paralysis; breath may smell like bitter almonds. Ingestion causes necrosis, pain, vomiting, an d severe purging, plus the above symptoms. Contact with eyes causes ulceration of conjunctiva and cornea. Contact with skin causes irritation and possible dermatitis; systemic poisoning can occur by absorption through skin. (USCG, 1999)

Act quickly; call physician. INHALATION: if victim has stopped breathing, start artificial respiration immediately; using amyl nitrite pearls, administer amyl nitrite by inhalation for 15-30 seconds of every minute while sodium nitrite solution is being prepared; discontinue amyl nitrite and immediately inject intravenously 10 ml of a 3% solution of sodium nitrite (nonsterile if necessary) over a period of 2-4 min.; without removing needle, infuse intravenously 50 ml of a 25% aqueous solution of sodium thiosulfate; injection should take about 10 min. (concentrations of 5-50% may be used, but keep total dose approx. 12 gm). Oxygen therapy may be helpful in combination with the above. INGESTION: alimentary absorption is very rapid; action during first 10-15 min. determines prognosis. Give egg whites, milk, or activated charcoal and induce vomiting; treat for cyanide poisoning as above. EYES or SKIN: wash with water for 15 min. (USCG, 1999)

/Experimental therapy:/ An approach to antidote therapy for cyanide poisoning by using Stroma-Free Methemoglobin Solution was investigated. Rats injected with an LD100 intravenous dose of cyanide were treated with Stroma-Free Methemoglobin Solution equal to 1.5% of their total body hemoglobin. There was a highly significant increase in the survival rate of the treated group compared to saline controls. The potential advantages of Stroma-Free Methemoglobin Solution over current antidotes include an immediate onset of action, rapid elimination of cyanide from the body and a mode of action that doesn't compromise any of the patients' oxygen carrying capacity. Stroma-Free Methemoglobin Solution shows promise as a significant adjunct in the treatment of cyanide poisoning. /Cyanide/|Basic Treatment: Establish a patent airway. Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 l/min. Administer amyl nitrite ampules as per protocol and physician order ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, Rush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with normal saline during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . /Cyanide and related compounds/|Advanced Treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious or in respiratory arrest. Positive pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Start an IV with D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. Watch for signs of fluid overload. Administer cyanide antidote kit as per protocol and physician order ... . Monitor and treat cardiac arrhythmias if necessary ... . Consider vasopressors to treat hypotension without signs of hypovolemia ... . Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Treat seizures with diazepam (Valium) ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Cyanide and related compounds/|Although a variety of agents are effective antidotes in the experimental animal (nitrites, dimethylaminophenol, cobalt EDTA, hydroxocobalamin, stroma-free methemoglobin solutions, pyruvate, thiosulfate, sulfur sulfanes, mercaptopyruvate, oxygen) only the three-step Eli-Lilly cyanide kit is approved in the US. /Cyanide/|For more Antidote and Emergency Treatment (Complete) data for MERCURIC CYANIDE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

MOST SPECIFIC PATHOLOGICAL FINDING IN ACUTE CASES /OF CYANIDE POISONING/ IS BRIGHT RED COLOR OF VENOUS BLOOD. THIS IS STRIKING, VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF INABILITY OF TISSUE CELLS TO UTILIZE OXYGEN ... VENOUS BLOOD IS ONLY ABOUT 1 VOL% LOWER IN OXYGEN CONTENT THAN ARTERIAL BLOOD ... /CYANIDES/|SYMPTOMATOLOGY: 1. Massive doses may produce, without warning, sudden loss of consciousness and prompt death from respiratory arrest. With smaller but still lethal doses, the illness may be prolonged for 1 or more hours. 2. Upon ingestion, a bitter, acrid, burning taste is sometimes noted, followed by a feeling of constriction or numbness in the throat. Salivation, nausea and vomiting are not unusual ... 3. Anxiety, confusion, vertigo, giddiness, and often a sensation of stiffness in the lower jaw. 4. Hyperpnea and dyspnea. Respirations become very rapid and then slow and irregular. Inspiration is characteristically short while expiration is greatly prolonged. 5. The odor of bitter almonds may be noted on the breath or vomitus ... 6. In the early phases of poisoning, an increase in vasoconstrictor tone causes a rise in blood pressure and reflex slowing of the heart rate. Thereafter the pulse becomes rapid, weak, and sometimes irregular. ... A bright pink coloration of the skin due to high concentrations of oxyhemoglobin in the venous return may be confused with that of carbon monoxide poisoning. /Cyanide/|SYMPTOMATOLOGY: 7. Unconsciousness, followed promptly by violent convulsions, epileptiform, or tonic, sometimes localized but usually generalized. Opisthotono and trismus may develop. Involuntary micturition and defecation occur. 8. Paralysis follows the convulsive stage. The skin is covered with sweat. The eyeballs protrude, and the pupils are dilated and unreactive. The mouth is covered with foam, which is sometimes bloodstained. ... The skin color may be brick red. Cyanosis is not prominent in spite of weak and irregular gasping. In the unconscious patient, bradycardia and the absence of cyanosis may be key diagnostic signs. 9. Death from respiratory arrest. As long as the heart beat continues, prompt and vigorous treatment offers some promise of survival. /Cyanide/|... IT IS POSSIBLE FOR CYANIDE TO CAUSE BLINDNESS & TO DAMAGE OPTIC NERVES & RETINA. /CYANIDE/|For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for MERCURIC CYANIDE (19 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Hg(CN)2

Grades of purity: Reagent|Grades: Technical, CP|THE COMMERCIAL SALT OF MERCURY OXYCYANIDE IS OFTEN A MIX OF THE OXYCYANIDE (1/3) AND MERCURY CYANIDE (2/3).

Mercury cyanide (Hg(CN)2): ACTIVE

Fire Hazards -> Reactive - 1st degree