| MadSci Network: Chemistry |
The simple answer is no. I am not a chemist by training, but this is what I have learned about yellow prussiate of soda. It is added to rock salt and foods to prevent caking. Kosher salt typically has yellow prussiate added to it. I contacted the folks at Morton Salt and they said that yellow prussiate does not naturally occur in salt deposits. I have found no evidence that it occurs naturally in halites or that this has been identified as any kind of environmental threat. Sodium ferrocyanide becomes toxic because hydrogen cyanide gas is released by the addition of hot or concentrated acids. Exposure to sunlight for any length of time will also release the toxic hydrogen cyanide gas. Waste ferrocyanides in streams and lakes should not exceed 2 ppm because irradiated solutions become toxic to fish (Burdick and Lipscheutz C.A. 44:10939f (1950)). The bond between iron and the cyanide moeity is strong, giving ferrocyanides only a low order of toxicity. When ferrocyanides are added to slightly acidic waters with iron salts present, Prussian blue (ferric ferrocyanide) will form. That's about all I can tell you. Cheers, Mark. Moderator's note: Here is another link from a chemical manufacturer that gives you some more information about yellow prussiate. Kieran
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