Cyanide

A cyanide is any chemical compound that contains the group C≡N, with the carbon atom triple bonded to the nitrogen atom. Inorganic cyanides contain the highly toxic cyanide ion CN- and are the salts of the acid hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Organic cyanides contain the cyano group (CN) single-bonded to another carbon atom are also known as nitriles. Two cyanide ions can bond to each other via their carbon atoms, forming the gas cyanogen (NC-CN).

Occurrence and use

Cyanides can be produced by certain bacteria, fungi, and algae, and are found in a number of foods and plants. Cyanide occurs naturally in cassava roots (aka manioc), which are potato-like tubers of cassava plants grown in tropical countries; these must be processed prior to consumption (usually by extended boiling).

Related Topics:
Bacteria - Fungi - Algae - Cassava

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Fruits which have a pit, such as cherries or apricots, often contain either cyanides or cyanogenic glycosides in the pit. Bitter almonds, from which almond oil and flavouring is made, also contain cyanide.

Related Topics:
Fruit - Cherries - Apricot - Almond

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Hydrogen cyanide is contained in vehicle exhaust and in tobacco smoke. The smoke of burning plastics contains hydrogen cyanide, and house fires often result in cyanide poisonings. A deep blue pigment called Prussian blue, used in the making of blueprints, is iron (III) ferrocyanide. (Hence the name cyanide, from cyan, a shade of blue.)

Related Topics:
Tobacco - Blue - Prussian blue - Blueprint - Iron - Cyan

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It produces hydrogen cyanide when exposed to acids.

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Cyanides are one of the very few soluble compounds of gold, and thus are used in electroplating, gold mining, metallurgy and jewellery for chemical gilding, buffing, and extraction of gold.

Related Topics:
Gold - Electroplating - Mining - Metallurgy - Jewellery - Gilding - Buffing

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Cyanides and hydrogen cyanide are used in production of chemicals, photographic development, making plastics, fumigating ships, and some mining processes.

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Potassium Ferrocyanide is used to achieve a blue colour on cast bronze sculptures during the final finishing stage of the sculpture. On its own it will produce a very dark shade of blue and is often mixed with other chemicals to achieve the desired tint and hue. It is applied using a torch and paint brush while wearing the standard safety equipment used for any patina application; rubber gloves, safety glasses and a respirator. The actual amount of cyanide in the mixture varies according to the recipes used by each foundry.

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