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Rafael, Dune Vienis Karen N.

November
20, 2009
BS-Pharmacy 4A Toxicology Lab

Activity No. 02
HYDROCYANIC ACID
I. Objectives:
1. To detect the presence of chlorofrom by performing Schönbein
Pagenstecher’s test, Prussian blue test, Leibig’s test, picric acid test, silver
nitrate test and Vortmann’s nitroprusside test.
2. To understand the principles behind each test, and
3. Interpret the results after performing each method of detection.

II. DATA:

Type of Test/Method of
Observations/Data
Detection
1. Schönbein Actual: the guaiac-copper paper turned black after it
Pagenstecher’s was warmed.
Test Ideal: The paper is turned blue to bluish
green(Warren, 1920).
2. Prussian Blue Test Actual: Upon the addition of potassium hydroxide
and two drops of freshly prepared ferrous sulfate the
distillate turned its color to blue.
Ideal: The precipitate of Prussian blue appeared. But
if the quantity is small, the solution will have merely
a blue or bluish green color. After a long time, a
flocculent precipitate of Prussian blue will settle to
the bottom of the test tube (Warren, 1921).
3. Leibig’s or Actual: The color of the solution turned to light rusty
Sulfocyanate Test brown.
Ideal: Reddish to blood-red color will appear due to
ferric sulphocyanate (Warren, 1921).
4. Picric Acid Test Actual: The distillate turned to rusty brown in color.
Ideal (+): The solution will become blood-red due to
the formation of potassium isopurpurate (Warren,
1921).
5. Silver Nitrate Test Actual: The acidified distillate with dilute nitric acid
and drops of silver nitrate produced a white
precipitate.
Ideal (+): A white, curdy precipitate of silver cyanide
(AgCN) will appear (Warren, 1921).
6. Vortmann’s Actual: The filtrate upon the addition of dilute
Nitroprusside Test ammonium sulfide turned the solution to green.
Ideal (+): A violet color will appear and pass through
blue green and yellow (Warren, 1921).
Data Analysis:

Schönbein-Pagenstecher Test Mechanism of Action (Warren, 1921)


Hydrocyanic acid has nothing to do with this reaction. But rather, it forms
ozone with copper sulphate and that turns the guaiaconic acid of guaiac resin blue.
Cupric cyanide (a) is an intermediate product which furnishes ozonized oxygen as
shown below (b):
(a) CuSO4 + 2HCN = Cu(CN)2 + H2SO4
(Cupric cyanide)
(b) 6Cu(CN)2 + 3H2O = 6CuCN + 6HCN + ↑ O3  Turns guaiac-copper
paper to blue
(Ozone)
Why is it called a “Preliminary Test”?
Neither hydrocyanic acid nor potassium cyanide is present, unless the paper
is turned blue or bluish green. But the only conclusion to be drawn from a positive
test is that hydrocyanic acid, or easily decomposable cyanide, may be present.
Further conclusions should not be drawn from a positive result, since other
substances like ammonia, volatile ammonium compounds, hydrochloric acid and
especially oxidizing agents like ozone, hydrogen dioxide, nitric acid and chlorine will
turn the paper blue.

Prussian Blue Test Mechanism of Reaction (Warren, 1921)


Hydrocyanic acid and potassium hydroxide form potassium cyanide which
with ferrous sulfate produces ferrous cyanide (a). The latter combines with more
potassium cyanide, forming potassium ferrocyanide (b) which with ferric chloride
precipitates Prussian blue (c), the ferric salt of hydroferrocyanic acid (H4Fe(CN)6).

(a) FeSO4 + 2KCN = Fe(CN)2 + K2SO4


(Ferrous sulfate) (Potassium cyanide) (Ferrous cyanide)

(b) Fe(CN)2 + 4KCN = K4Fe(CN)6


(Ferrous cyanide) (Potassium cyanide) (Potassium ferrocyanide)

(c) 3K4Fe(CN)6 + 4FeCl3 = Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 ↓


+ 12KCl
(Potassium ferrocyanide) (Ferric chloride) (Ferric ferrocyanide/Prussian blue)

Prussian blue will not appear in presence of alkalies, since they decompose
as it follows:
Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 + 12KOH = 3K4Fe(CN)6 + 4Fe(OH)8

Sulphocyanate Test Mechanism of Reaction (Warren, 1921)


Hydrocyanic acid and potassium hydroxide form potassium cyanide which
takes sulfur form yellow ammonium sulfide and becomes potassium sulphocyanate
(a). The latter with ferric chloride forms ferric sulphocyanate (b):

(i) HCN + KOH = KCN + H 2O


(Hydrocyanic acid) (Potassium hydroxide) (Potassium cyanide) (Dihydrogen oxide)
(a) KCN + (H4N)2Sx = KSCN + (H4N)2Sx-1
(Potassium cyanide) (Yellow ammonium sulfide) (Potassium sulphocyanate)
(b) 3KSCN + FeCl3 = Fe(SCN)3 + 3KCl
(Potassium sulphocyante) (Ferric chloride) (Ferric sulphocyanate) (Potassium
chloride)

If the distillate contained hydrocyanic acid, a reddish to blood-red color will


appear. This is due to ferric sulphocyanate. The limit of delicacy is 1:4,000,000.

Silver Nitrate Test Mechanism of Reaction


The presence of hydrocyanic acid results to appearance of a white, curdy
precipitate of silver cyanide. The limit of delicady is 1:250,000 (Warren, 1921).

(i) HCN + AgNO3 AgCN ↓ + HNO3


(Hydrocyanic acid) (Silver nitrate) (Silver cyanide) (Nitric acid)

III. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:


1. What are the laboratory safety measures in handling hydrocyanic acid?
• Safety glasses, gloves, good ventilation.
• Only use if no suitable alternative chemical is available.
• Do not work on your own.
• Keep a cyanide poisoning kit available at all times, and ensure that
fellow workers know how to use it.
• Do not release into the environment.

1. In storing, what other acids are incompatible with hydrocyanic acid?


• Nitric acid
• Alkali

IV. CONCLUSION:

In whatever way applied, hydrocyanic acid is absorbed, even from the skin.
So rapid is the absorption of this poison that there is evidence of intoxication after a
few seconds, or a few minutes at most. Part of the poison thus absorbed passes
from the body unchanged by way of the lungs. Another part, usually much less, is
eliminated by the kidneys and passes into the urine. Sweat also is said to contain
hydrocyanic acid. With this in mind, pharmacists play a vital role in the
management in cases of hydrocyanic acid intoxication. With this activity, I
understood and acquired skills on the detection of chloroform in the laboratory
aside from management using pharmaceutical means. Chloroform is detected in the
laboratory by performing Schönbein Pagenstecher’s test, Prussian blue test, Leibig’s
test, picric acid test, silver nitrate test and Vortmann’s nitroprusside test

Bibliography

Warren, W. H. (1921). Laboratory Manual for the Detection of Poisons and Powerful
Drugs. New Jersey: Read Books.

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