ABSTRACT
Cyanides are metal salts or complexes that contain the cyanide ion. These cyanides could be subdivided into two categories: simple cyanides such as NaCN, NH4CN, or Ca(CN)2 containing one metal ion in its formula unit and complex cyanides such as K4Ce(CN)6 or NaAg(CN)2 containing two different metals in their formula unit, one usually being an alkali metal and the other a heavy metal. The degree and rate of dissociation of complex cyanides depend on several factors, including the nature of the metal, the pH of the solution, and dilution. Cyanide ion and HCN are highly toxic to human beings, animals, and aquatic life. Cyanide in water may be determined by the following methods: silver nitrate titrimetric method, colorimetric method, ion-selective electrode method and ion chromatography.
