Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Reduction of thiocyanate

Bedlasky - 27-8-2019 at 02:17

Hi.

I try reduced some Mo(V)-thiocyanate complex in to Mo(IV)-thiocyanate complex with zinc. After few seconds I smelled H2S and I knew that was something wrong. I opened quickly window and pour solution in to the container with heavy metal waste and closed it. I realized that maybe some HCN was formed. But I am still alive, so what happend? Maybe I am only lucky and Mo formed complex with cyanide but I am not sure about that. Anyone know what are products of this reaction?

teodor - 27-8-2019 at 03:41

If a man would be dead from just a small HCN escape I think nobody practicing chemistry can stay alive for a long. It is quite detectable by smell and if you able to leave the room you will be OK (just from my experience). I think if you didn't notice HCN smell there were no HCN.

This is a funny thing, if you compare published IDLH for HCN and HBr it is the same value.

[Disclaimer: of course, don't understand that as to be careless].


[Edited on 27-8-2019 by teodor]