Substance profile
Nickel Cyanide
Nickel Cyanide is a YELLOW-BROWN with a weak characteristic odor of cyanide.
01 · Identification
What Nickel Cyanide is
Nickel Cyanide is a YELLOW-BROWN with a weak characteristic odor of cyanide. Its molecular formula is C2N2Ni and its molecular weight is 110.73 g/mol. It melts at 200 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as carcinogens.
02 · Identifiers
Nickel Cyanide identifiers and molecular data
Nickel Cyanide CAS number and EC number
Nickel Cyanide molecular formula and molecular weight
Other names for Nickel Cyanide
- nickel dicyanide
03 · GHS classification
Nickel Cyanide hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Nickel Cyanide pictograms and signal word
Nickel Cyanide hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory sensitisation GHS chapter 3.4 | Category 1 or 1A or 1B | H334 | GHS08 |
| Skin sensitisation GHS chapter 3.4 | Category 1 or 1A or 1B | H317 | GHS07 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure GHS chapter 3.9 | Category 1 | H372 | GHS08 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H400 | GHS09 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H410 | GHS09 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
Nickel Cyanide hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H350i | May cause cancer by inhalation. |
| H372 | Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H334 | May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled. |
| H317 | May cause an allergic skin reaction. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
| H410 | Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
Nickel Cyanide supplemental EU statements (EUH)
| Code | Statement |
|---|---|
| EUH032 | Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Nickel Cyanide. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for Nickel Cyanide
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of Nickel Cyanide issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
Nickel Cyanide precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 11 precautionary statements to Nickel Cyanide. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
Nickel Cyanide name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | никелов дицианид |
| Spanish español | Dicianuro de níquel |
| Czech čeština | kyanid nikelnatý |
| Danish dansk | nikkeldicyanid |
| German Deutsch | Nickeldicyanid |
| Estonian eesti | nikkelditsüaniid |
| Greek ελληνικά | δικυανιούχο νικέλιο |
| English English | nickel dicyanide |
| French français | dicyanure de nickel |
| Croatian hrvatski | niklov dicijanid |
| Italian italiano | dicianuro di nichel |
| Latvian latviešu | niķeļa dicianīds |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | nikelio dicianidas |
| Hungarian magyar | nikkel-dicianid |
| Maltese Malti | diċjanur tan-nikil |
| Dutch Nederlands | nikkeldicyanide |
| Polish polski | dicyjanian niklu |
| Portuguese português | dicianeto de níquel |
| Romanian română | dicianură de nichel |
| Slovak slovenčina | kyanid nikelnatý |
| Slovenian slovenščina | nikljev dicianid |
| Finnish suomi | nikkelidisyanidi |
| Swedish svenska | nickeldicyanid |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
Nickel Cyanide GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Nickel Cyanide, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Nickel Cyanide
- May cause cancer by inhalation.
- Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled.
- May cause an allergic skin reaction.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- Get medical advice/attention.
- Get medical advice/attention if you feel unwell.
- If skin irritation or rash occurs:
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Nickel Cyanide in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Nickel Cyanide health hazards and exposure limits
Nickel Cyanide hazard summary
A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; [HSDB] Highly toxic; [Hawley] See Nickel and linked occupational diseases. See CYANIDES.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Nickel Cyanide occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 5.0 [mg/m3], as CN (1 mg/m3, as Ni) | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | 10 mg Ni/m3 ; A potential occupational carcinogen. (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 25.0 [mg/m3], as CN | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | NIOSH considers nickel metal and other compounds (as Ni) to be potential occupational carcinogens. /Nickel metal and other compounds (as Ni)/ | Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Nickel Cyanide properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
Nickel Cyanide boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | Decomposes. (USCG, 1999) | decomposes | CAMEO |
Nickel Cyanide melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 200 °C (392 °F) | above this value | HSDB |
Nickel Cyanide density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.393 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 2.4 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | CAMEO | |
| 2.393 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | DOE PAC |
Nickel Cyanide solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Apple-green powder. Insol in water. Slightly soluble in dil acids, freely in alkali cyanides, in ammonia, and in ammonium carbonate. | Tetrahydrate | HSDB |
| SLIGHTLY SOL IN DILUTE ACIDS | NICKEL CYANIDE TETRAHYDRATE | HSDB | |
| INSOL IN COLD OR HOT WATER | HSDB |
Nickel Cyanide flash point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash point | Not Applicable. Not flammable. (USCG, 1999) | CAMEO |
Nickel Cyanide lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | Not Applicable. Not flammable. (USCG, 1999) | CAMEO |
Nickel Cyanide upper explosive limit (UEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | Not Applicable. Not flammable. (USCG, 1999) | CAMEO |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Nickel Cyanide fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Nickel Cyanide fire potential
Not flammable
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Nickel Cyanide storage and handling
Nickel Cyanide storage conditions
Storage temp: Ambient
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Nickel Cyanide incompatible materials
Heating magnesium with nickel cyanide causes the magnesium to become incandescent.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Nickel Cyanide reactivity
NICKEL CYANIDE is thermally unstable and easily oxidized. Weakly basic. Liberates flammable and lethally poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas on contact with acids or acid fumes. Undergoes violent reactions with fluorine, hypochlorites, nitric acid, nitrates, nitrites. Undergoes an explosive reaction if melted with nitrites or chlorates (at about 450 °C). Emits highly toxic cyanide fumes when heated to decomposition. [Lewis, 3rd ed., 1993, p. 360, 912]. Undergoes an incandescent reaction if heated with magnesium [Mellor, 1940, vol. 4, p. 271].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Nickel Cyanide in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
Nickel Cyanide — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Nickel Cyanide?
The CAS number of Nickel Cyanide is 557-19-7. Its EC number is 209-160-8.
What is the chemical formula of Nickel Cyanide?
The molecular formula of Nickel Cyanide is C2N2Ni and its molecular weight is 110.73 g/mol.
What does a Nickel Cyanide label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Nickel Cyanide carries the pictograms Health hazard and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Nickel Cyanide flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Nickel Cyanide no flammability hazard class. That is not a statement that it cannot burn: the harmonised list only records the hazards that were assessed for it. The flash point reported for it is Not Applicable. Not flammable. (USCG, 1999) (CAMEO).
Is Nickel Cyanide a carcinogen?
Yes. CLP Annex VI classifies Nickel Cyanide as a category 1A or 1B carcinogen and assigns it H350i: may cause cancer by inhalation.
What is the exposure limit for Nickel Cyanide?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Nickel Cyanide is 5.0 [mg/m3], as CN (1 mg/m3, as Ni) (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of Nickel Cyanide?
The boiling point reported for Nickel Cyanide is Decomposes. (USCG, 1999), decomposes (CAMEO).
What is the melting point of Nickel Cyanide?
The melting point reported for Nickel Cyanide is 200 °C (392 °F), above this value (HSDB).
How should Nickel Cyanide be stored?
Storage temp: Ambient (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Nickel Cyanide
Keep going: substances starting with N, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.