Question

What is the formulae of the compound:

1)potassium cyanide

2)magnesium cyanide

Answer 1

Cyanide is 'CN' (carbon triple bond to nitrogen)
1.Potassium cyanide
Formula is ' KCN'

(K= potassium
CN = cyanide)

2.magnesium cyanide
Formula is 'Mg(CN)2'

Here valency of Mg is 2 that's why 2 (CN)
in previous case valency of K is 1 therefore only (CN)