hydrogen cyanide

noun

1. a colorless poisonous gas, HCN, having a bitter almondlike odor: in aqueous solution it forms hydrocyanic acid.

hydrogen cyanide

noun

1. a colourless poisonous liquid with a faint odour of bitter almonds, usually made by a catalysed reaction between ammonia, oxygen, and methane. It forms prussic acid in aqueous solution and is used for making plastics and dyes and as a war gas. Formula: HCN Also calledhydrocyanic acid

hydrogen cyanide

1. A colorless, flammable, extremely poisonous liquid. Salts derived from it have many industrial uses, such as hardening iron and steel, extracting metals from ores, electroplating metallic surfaces, and making acrylonitrile, from which acrylic fibers and plastics are produced. It is also used to make dyes and poisons. A solution of hydrogen cyanide in water forms a colorless acid called hydrocyanic acid. Chemical formula: HCN.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrogen cyanide¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Zyklon B, a gas used by the Nazis in the death camps, is a haunting example of the rapid lethality of one form, hydrogen cyanide.

From The Daily Beast

The cyanide present as hydrogen cyanide or prussic acid (HCy) is practically useless as a gold solvent.

From Project Gutenberg

The assay for "cyanide" should include the hydrogen cyanide with the rest.

From Project Gutenberg

I think it was a rocket, and I know it was heavily laced with hydrogen cyanide.

From Project Gutenberg