Lithium cyanide is an

inorganic compound In chemistry, an inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds, that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as '' inorganic chemis ...

with the chemical formula LiCN. It is a toxic, white colored,

hygroscopic Hygroscopy is the phenomenon of attracting and holding water molecules via either absorption or adsorption from the surrounding environment, which is usually at normal or room temperature. If water molecules become suspended among the substance' ...

, water-soluble salt that finds only niche uses.

Preparation

LiCN arises from the interaction of lithium hydroxide and hydrogen cyanide. A laboratory-scale preparation uses

acetone cyanohydrin Acetone cyanohydrin (ACH) is an organic compound used in the production of methyl methacrylate, the monomer of the transparent plastic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), also known as acrylic. It liberates hydrogen cyanide easily, so it is used as a s ...

as a surrogate for HCN: :(CH₃)₂C(OH)CN + LiH → (CH₃)₂CO + LiCN + H₂

Uses

The compound decomposes to

cyanamide Cyanamide is an organic compound with the formula C N2 H2. This white solid is widely used in agriculture and the production of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds. It is also used as an alcohol-deterrent drug. The molecule features a ...

and carbon when heated to a temperature close to but below 600 °C. Acids react to give

hydrogen cyanide Hydrogen cyanide, sometimes called prussic acid, is a chemical compound with the formula HCN and structure . It is a colorless, extremely poisonous, and flammable liquid that boils slightly above room temperature, at . HCN is produced on a ...

. Lithium cyanide can be used as a reagent for organic compound

cyanation In organic synthesis, cyanation is the attachment or substitution of a cyanide group on various substrates. Such transformations are high-value because they generate C-C bond. Furthermore nitriles are versatile functional groups. Cyanation to fo ...

. :RX + LiCN → RCN + LiX

References

{{Cyanides Lithium salts Cyanides