Sodium cyanate

Chemical compound From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sodium cyanate is the inorganic compound with the formula NaOCN. A white solid, it is the sodium salt of the cyanate anion.

Quick Facts Identifiers, Properties ...
Sodium cyanate
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Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
3655041
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.011.846
EC Number
  • 213-030-6
MeSH C009281
UNII
  • InChI=1S/CHNO.Na/c2-1-3;/h3H;/q;+1/p-1
    Key: ZVCDLGYNFYZZOK-UHFFFAOYSA-M
  • C(#N)[O-].[Na+]
Properties
NaOCN
Molar mass 65.01 g/mol
Appearance white crystalline solid
Odor odorless
Density 1.893 g/cm3
Melting point 550 °C (1,022 °F; 823 K)
11.6 g/100 mL (25 °C)
Solubility ethanol: 0.22 g/100 mL (0 °C)
dimethylformamide: 0.05 g/100 mL (25 °C)
slightly soluble in ammonia, benzene
insoluble in diethyl ether
Structure
body centered rhombohedral
Thermochemistry
86.6 J/mol K
119.2 J/mol K
−400 kJ/mol
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS07: Exclamation mark
Warning
H302, H412
P264, P270, P273, P301+P312, P330, P501
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
1500 mg/kg (rat, oral)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Structure

The anion is described by two resonance structures: N≡C−O and N=C=O

The salt adopts a body centered rhombohedral crystal lattice structure (trigonal crystal system) at room temperature.[1]

Preparation

Sodium cyanate is prepared industrially by the reaction of urea with sodium carbonate at elevated temperature.

2OC(NH2)2 + Na2CO3 → 2Na(NCO) + CO2 + 2NH3 + H2O

Sodium allophanate is observed as an intermediate:[2]

H2NC(O)NHCO2Na → NaOCN + NH3 + CO2

It can also be prepared in the laboratory by oxidation of a cyanide in aqueous solution by a mild oxidizing agent such as lead oxide.[3]

Uses and reactions

The main use of sodium cyanate is for steel hardening.[2]

Sodium cyanate is used to produce cyanic acid, often in situ:

NaOCN + HCl → HOCN + NaCl

This approach is exploited for condensation with amines to give unsymmetrical ureas:

HOCN + RNH2 → RNHC(O)NH2

Such urea derivatives have a range of biological activity.[4]

See also

References

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