Definition

1. Noun:
   • The monovalent group -CN in a chemical compound: In chemistry, the "cyanide radical" refers to the functional group consisting of one carbon atom triple-bonded to one nitrogen atom (written as -C≡N or -CN). This group carries a single negative charge when it exists as an ion (cyanide ion, CN⁻), but as a "radical" group within a larger molecule, it is a key structural unit.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The toxicity of the compound is attributed to the presence of the cyanide radical.
  • In organic chemistry, a nitrile is any organic compound that contains a cyanide radical.
  • The cyanide radical (-CN) can be found in both lethal poisons and essential biological molecules.

Advanced Usage

• Chemical Nomenclature: The term "cyanide radical" is often used interchangeably with "cyano group" in systematic chemical naming. For example, methyl cyanide (CH₃CN) is more formally called acetonitrile, where the "-nitrile" suffix indicates the presence of the -CN group.
• Distinction from Cyanide Ion: While related, the "cyanide radical" as a bound group in a molecule is distinct from the free "cyanide ion" (CN⁻), which is a highly toxic, dissociated anion.

Variants and Related Words

• Cyano group (n): A synonymous term for the -CN functional group in chemical nomenclature.
  • Benzonitrile contains a cyano group attached to a benzene ring.
• Nitrile (n): A class of organic compounds characterized by having a -CN group.
  • Acrylonitrile is an important nitrile used in plastics manufacturing.

Synonyms

• Cyano group: The standard synonym in chemical terminology.
• Carbonitrile group: A less common but technically accurate synonym.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "radical" in this context does not imply a free radical (a molecule with an unpaired electron) in the modern chemical sense. It is a traditional term for a group of atoms that behaves as a single unit in chemical reactions and remains unchanged through a series of reactions. The more contemporary and precise term is "functional group" or specifically "cyano group."

Noun

1. the monovalent group -CN in a chemical compound