Cyanogen-oxygen mixture

Vanpee (62) has studied the explosion of formaldehyde-oxygen mixtures. The dependence of explosion pressure upon temperature, vessel diameter, and the addition of inert diluent is in agreement with the thermal theory and consistent with studies of the slow reactions (54, 61). Typical of other reactions which have been reported to exhibit thermal explosion limits are the decomposition of nitrous oxide (75), the reaction between nitrous oxide and hydrogen (38), and cyanogen-air (32). 

The classic source is a chemical combustion flame such as an acetylene-air flame. Table 2 shows flame temperatures for various fuels and oxidants. In today s instruments, acetylene-air and acetylene-nitrous oxide are the most common fuel-oxidant mixtures. In general, flames are considered relatively low-temperature sources (2000-3000°C) and have their greatest utility in determination of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals. (The cyanogen/oxygen flame shown in the table is considered an exotic flame and is rarely used in analysis both because of the toxicity of the fuel as well as the high production rate of CO as a combustion byproduct.)... 

Lester, D. H., Rept. NASA-CR-148711, Richmond (Va), USNTIS, 1976 Mixtures with liquid carbon monoxide, cyanogen (solidified), and methane are highly explosive [1]. Autoignition in liquid oxygen-hydrogen propellant systems has been reviewed [2],... 

Cyanogen is a highly flammable gas. It forms explosive mixtures with air, LEL 6.6%, UEL 32% by volume. Reactions with oxygen, ozone, fluorine or other strong oxidizing agents can be explosive. Also, it can explode when exposed to spark, flame or heat. 

Oxygen (liquid). Mixture of liquid oxygen and liquid cyanogen explodes.4... 

CYANOGEN (460-19-5) Flammable gas. Able to form unstable peroxides on prolonged storage in air. Explosive reaction occurs with acids, liquid oxygen, oxidizers, sodium nitrite. Slowly hydrolyzed in water, forming hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and oxalic acid. Incompatible with chlorates, fluorine, mercurous chloride, nitrates, nitrites, nitric acid. May form sensitive explosive mixtures with potassium chlorate. Attacks some metals in presence of moisture. 

Cyanogen forms an explosive mixture with air within the range of 6.6-32%. Liquid cyanogen can explode when mixed with liquid oxygen. When mixed with an acid or water or when heated to decomposition, it produces toxic fumes. 

Dixon and H. F. Lowe found that dry carbon dioxide, but not moist, is dissociated to the extent of 39 per cent, by electric sparks. Dixon found that a dry mixture of carbon monoxide and oxygen united completely but without flame in contact with white-hot platinum wire, freed from occluded hydrogen, but a silver wire may be fused electrically in the mixture without effect. A dry mixture of cyanogen and oxygen is exploded by an electric spark, and the flame of the dry mixture, analysed on a moving photographic film, is identical with that of a moist mixture. ... 

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