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Thecyanide ion. From the top: 1. Valence-bond structure 2. Space-filling model 3. Electrostatic potential surface 4. 'Carbon lone pair'Removal of cyanide fromcassava inNigeria.
Cyanides arechemicals that contain thecyano-group C≡N. Organic compounds that contain the CN group are callednitriles. In that group acarbonatom has threechemical bonds to anitrogen atom. The group is present in many substances. Those substances that can release the compound CN are verypoisonous.
Certainbacteria,fungi andalgae are able to produce cyanides. Cyanides are also found in certain foods or plants, such ascassava. The cyanides serve as adefense against being eaten byherbivores.
In popular culture, cyanides are said to be verytoxic. There are some cyanides that are, but others that are not.Prussian blue, a cyanide compound, is given as a treatment to poisoning withthallium andcaesium, for example.
The poisons referred to are usuallyhydrogen cyanide (HCN), and the chemicals which are similar to it, likepotassium cyanide (KCN), andsodium cyanide (NaCN). They arederivatives of hydrogen cyanide. The single most hazardous compound is hydrogen cyanide, which is a gas and kills by inhalation. cyanide smells like bitter almonds when near.
Hydroxocobalamin reacts with cyanide to formcyanocobalamin, which can be safely eliminated by thekidneys. Thisantidote kit is sold under the brand nameCyanokit and was approved by the U.S. FDA in 2006.[1]
