What is the Difference Between Potassium Cyanide and Potassium Gold Cyanide?

The key difference between potassium cyanide and potassium gold cyanide lies in their chemical composition and usage. Potassium cyanide has the chemical formula KCN, while potassium gold cyanide, also known as potassium dicyanoaurate, has the chemical formula K[Au(CN)2].

Potassium Cyanide:

• Colorless crystalline salt, highly soluble in water.
• Used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating.
• Highly toxic, with a lethal dose of 200 to 300 milligrams for most humans.

Potassium Gold Cyanide:

• Colorless to white solid, soluble in water and slightly soluble in alcohol.
• Used in the extraction of gold from dilute ores and in gold plating applications.
• Less toxic than potassium cyanide.

In summary, potassium cyanide and potassium gold cyanide differ in their chemical composition, with potassium cyanide being a simpler compound and potassium gold cyanide containing gold cations. They have different toxicities, with potassium cyanide being more toxic, and they are used in different applications, with potassium gold cyanide being more focused on gold extraction and plating.

Comparative Table: Potassium Cyanide vs Potassium Gold Cyanide

Here is a table comparing potassium cyanide and potassium gold cyanide:

Potassium cyanide is a chemical compound with the formula KCN and is highly soluble in water. It is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating applications. Potassium gold cyanide, also known as potassium dicyanoaurate, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula K[Au(CN)2]. It is typically used in gold plating techniques and has a gold content of about 68.2%.