Hydrogen cyanide

Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products

Administrative data

Endpoint:

stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: see 'Remark'

Remarks:

Experimental data was reviewed by the ECETOC Task Force, author of the JACC Report No. 53, “Cyanides of Hydrogen, Sodium and Potassium, and Acetone Cyanohydrin (CAS No. 74-90-8, 143-33-9, 151-50-8 and 75-86-5)”, 2007. The report is a weight of evidence approach to an extensive body of literature, much of which was undertaken prior to development of guidelines. The report was peer reviewed by the scientific non-governmental organization (NGO), which judged the data to be reliable with restrictions.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

review article or handbook

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2007

Materials and methods

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Hydrogen cyanide

EC Number:

200-821-6

EC Name:

Hydrogen cyanide

Cas Number:

74-90-8

Molecular formula:

CHN

IUPAC Name:

hydrogen cyanide

Results and discussion

Test substance stable:

yes

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

HCN presents a stable gas in the atmosphere.

Executive summary:

The HCN molecule is strongly bound; it presents a stable gas in the atmosphere. The large enthalpies exclude many theoretically possible endo/exothermic reactions in the gas phase; only those with OH radical and O(1D) are important. Photodissociation is only expected in the upper stratosphere (UV light, λ = 175 - 238 nm).