Oxidation of metal thiocyanates by nitric and nitrous acids. Part I. Products

Abstract

Sodium thiocyanate is oxidised in nitric acid (ca. 1 M) to give sulphuric acid, hydrogen cyanide, sulphur dicyanide, and nitrous acid as final products. The reaction is auto-catalytic in nitrous acid. The stoicheiometry varies during the course of the oxidation, and in the early stages corresponds to the formation of sulphuric acid and hydrogen cyanide. At a later stage the latter product reacts with an intermediate, probably thiocyanogen, to form sulphur dicyanide.