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).

References

• Prof. Patrick Christie, University of Washington, Lecture, 4 May, 2005.
• Prof. Patrick Christie, University of Washington, Lecture, 10 May, 2005.
• Prof. Celia Lowe, University of Washington, Lecture, 6 May, 2005.
• Charles Stewart MD FACEP FAAEM Lecture notes, Available on www.storysmith.net