Question

How does cyanogen chloride differ from hydrogen cyanide?

Answer 1

To know the differences between cyanogen chloride and hydrogen cyanide we first need to know what these chemical compounds are. Hydrogen cyanide is an acid that has molecular formula $H-C\equiv N$ whereas cyanogen chloride has molecular formula $Cl-C\equiv N$.

Complete step-by-step answer: Since cyanogen chloride and hydrogen cyanide are two completely different chemical compounds, they have different physical as well as chemical properties. Some of the fundamental differences are
- Cyanogen chloride has an acrid odor whereas hydrogen cyanide has an odor of bitter almond oil.
- Cyanogen chloride exists in a gaseous state and hydrogen cyanide exists in both the gaseous as well as the liquid state.
- Cyanogen chloride has a melting point of 266.6 K whereas hydrogen cyanide has a melting point of 259.86 K.
- Cyanogen chloride has a boiling point of 286.0 K whereas hydrogen cyanide has a boiling point of 299.00 K.
- Cyanogen chloride has a density of 2.77 g/L whereas hydrogen cyanide has a density of 0.69 g/L.
- Cyanogen chloride can be synthesized by oxidizing sodium cyanide with chlorine
$NaCN+C{{l}_{2}}\to ClCN+NaCl$
Hydrogen cyanide can be synthesized by combining ammonia and methane
$2C{{H}_{4}}+2N{{H}_{3}}+3{{O}_{2}}\xrightarrow[\Delta =1200{}^\circ C]{Pt}2HCN+6{{H}_{2}}O$

Note: There are various similarities between cyanogen chloride and hydrogen cyanide. They both have linear structures and contain a triple bond between carbon and nitrogen $(-C\equiv N)$. They are both extremely toxic as well as poisonous in nature and have been used as chemical weapons. They're both colorless and are soluble and miscible in water and ethanol.