Sodium thiocyanate

This colorless deliquescent salt is one of the main sources of the thiocyanate anion.

Each Na+ center is surrounded by three sulfur and three nitrogen ligands provided by the triatomic thiocyanate anion.

Sodium thiocyanate is employed to convert alkyl halides into the corresponding alkylthiocyanates.

[4] Protonation of sodium thiocyanate affords isothiocyanic acid, S=C=NH (pKa = −1.28).

[5] This species is generated in situ from sodium thiocyanate; it adds to organic amines to afford derivatives of thiourea.

The sodium cation
The sodium cation
The thiocyanate anion (space-filling model)
The thiocyanate anion (space-filling model)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond Health 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroform Flammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. water Instability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogen Special hazards (white): no code