Definition

1. Noun:
   • An extremely poisonous salt of hydrocyanic acid: A highly toxic chemical compound containing the cyanide ion (CN⁻), often used in industrial processes like mining and electroplating.
   • Any of a class of organic compounds containing the cyano radical -CN: Refers to organic molecules where a carbon atom is triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom (the -C≡N group), which can be part of various substances, some of which are also toxic.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The laboratory handled cyanide with extreme caution due to its lethal nature.
  • Some seeds, like apple seeds, contain trace amounts of compounds that can release cyanide.
  • The organic chemist synthesized a new nitrile, a type of cyanide compound, for the polymer.

Advanced Usage

• "Hydrogen cyanide": A highly toxic, volatile, and colorless gas (HCN) that is a simple form of cyanide.
  • Hydrogen cyanide was used as a chemical weapon in the past.
• "Cyanide poisoning": The condition resulting from exposure to cyanide, which inhibits cellular respiration.
  • The rapid administration of an antidote is critical in cases of cyanide poisoning.

Variants and Related Words

• Cyanogenic (adj): Describing a substance capable of producing cyanide.
  • Cassava is a cyanogenic plant and must be processed properly to remove toxins.
• Cyanidation (n): An industrial process, especially in mining, that uses cyanide to extract gold and silver from ore.
  • Cyanidation is a common but controversial method in the gold mining industry.

Synonyms

• Prussic acid (salt): An archaic term for salts of hydrocyanic acid.
• Nitrile: A common term for many organic compounds containing the -CN group.

Related Phrases

• Cyanide fishing: A destructive fishing practice using cyanide to stun fish for capture, often for the aquarium trade.
  • Cyanide fishing is illegal in many countries because it devastates coral reefs.

Noun

1. an extremely poisonous salt of hydrocyanic acid
2. any of a class of organic compounds containing the cyano radical -CN