Cyanide ion (CN⁻)
- Charge
- −1
- Atoms
- C, N
- Atoms in total
- 2
- Mass of the ion
- 26.018 g/mol
Cyanide is a carbon atom joined to a nitrogen atom by a triple bond, with a 1− charge. It is the ion left when hydrogen cyanide, HCN, loses its hydrogen ion, and it has the same number of electrons as a nitrogen molecule, N₂. It is highly toxic because it stops cells from using oxygen, yet industry relies on it to extract gold from ore and to plate metals.
- The -ide ending normally belongs to single-atom ions such as chloride, but a few polyatomic ions keep it, including cyanide, hydroxide and azide.
- Cyanide binds tightly to metal atoms, forming complex ions such as [Au(CN)₂]⁻, which carries dissolved gold in gold mining.
- Sodium cyanide, NaCN, and potassium cyanide, KCN, are the most common cyanide salts.