Note 453 — Chapter XII · THE COPPER AND SILVER GROUPS (Continued).—THE THEORY OF COMPLEX IONS

Potassium cyanide is a powerful reducing agent (see p. 89) and is readily oxidized to potassium cyanate. The action, presumably, takes the following course (see Chapters XIV and XV):

2 Cu²⁺ + 4 HO⁻ + KNC^± → 2 Cu⁺ + 4 HO⁻ + KNC²⁺ → 2 Cu⁺ + 2 HO⁻ + KNCO + H₂O.