Hydrogen cyanide, HCN, is a poisonous gas. The lethal dose is approximately 300 mg HCN

Chapter 3, Problem 3.107

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Hydrogen cyanide, HCN, is a poisonous gas. The lethal dose is approximately 300 mg HCN per kilogram of air when inhaled. (a) Calculate the amount of HCN that gives the lethal dose in a small laboratory room measuring 12 x 15 x 8.0 ft. The density of air at 26 oc is 0.00118 g/cm3 (b) If the HCN is formed by reaction of NaCN with an acid such as H2S04, what mass of NaCN gives the lethal dose in the room? 2 NaCN(s) + H2S04(aq) -----> Na2S04(aq) + 2 HCN(g) (c) HCN forms when synthetic fibers containing Orion or Acrilan burn. Acrilan has an empirical formula of CH2CHCN, so HCN is 50.9% of the formula by mass. A rug measures 12 X 15 ft and contains 30 oz of Acrilan fibers per square yard of carpet. If the rug burns, will a lethal dose of HCN be generated in the room? Assume that the yield of HCN from the fibers is 20% and that the carpet is 50% consumed.