Sodium cyanate

 ( Cyanates ) 

Sodium cyanate is the inorganic compound with the formula NaOCN. A white solid, it is the sodium salt of the cyanate anion.

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Structure The anion is described by two resonance structures:

The salt adopts a body centered rhombohedral crystal lattice structure (trigonal crystal system) at room temperature.Waddington, T.C. "Journal of the Chemical Society (Resumed)." 499. Lattice Parameters and Infrared Spectra of Some Inorganic Cyanates - (RSC Publishing). N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2014.

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Preparation Sodium cyanate is prepared industrially by the reaction of urea with sodium carbonate at elevated temperature.

2OC(NH₂)₂ + Na₂CO₃ → 2Na(NCO) + CO₂ + 2NH₃ + H₂O

Sodium allophanate is observed as an intermediate:

(2025). 9783527306732 ISBN 9783527306732

It can also be prepared in the laboratory by oxidation of a cyanide in aqueous solution by a mild oxidizing agent such as lead oxide.

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Uses and reactions The main use of sodium cyanate is for steel hardening.

Sodium cyanate is used to produce cyanic acid, often in situ:

This approach is exploited for condensation with amines to give unsymmetrical ureas:

Such urea derivatives have a range of biological activity.

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See also

• Cyanate

Categories: Cyanates, Sodium Compounds

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