Barium platinum cyanide

By electrolysis of a solution of barium cyanide between platinum electrodes, using an alternating current, a solution of barium platino-cyanide has been obtained 1 which, upon concentration, crystallised out in yellow, slightly dichroic crystals, exhibiting a slight fluorescence under radium. 

Fused alkalies, particularly potassium and barium hydroxides, are corrosive to platinum. In the presence of oxygen or oxidizing agents this corrosive action of fused alkalies increases. Also, cyanide and nitrates of alkali metals in fused state are corrosive to platinum. 

Cyanogen derivatives arc numerous and capable of great complexity. Platinous cyanide Pt(CN)3, is obtained as a yellow precipitate when mercuric cyanide is added to a solution of alkali chlorplatinite. Double cyanides of the general formula M 2Pt(CN)4 are formed by such reactions as 6 KCN + PtCL = K2Pt(CN) + 4 KC1 + (CN),. These platino-cyanides do not respond to the ordinary tests for platinum. These compounds yield beautifully colored hydrates, and the barium and calcium hydrates have optical isomeric modifications.2 Certain of these hydrates become remarkably fluorescent under excitation from ultraviolet light or radium. 

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