Binary salts are composed of a metal and a nonmetal except oxygen. M+NM except oxygen = binary salt. They have varying hazards, one of which is toxicity. Some of the binary salts are highly toxic, such as sodium fluoride, calcium phosphide, and mercuric
Chloride. Cyanide salts are composed of a metal and the cyanide radical (CN), M+CN = cyanide salt. They are also highly toxic, such as sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide. The remaining salts, binary oxides, peroxide, hydroxides, and oxysalts are generally not considered toxic.