potassium cyanide

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a white, granular, water-soluble, poisonous powder, KCN, having a faint almondlike odor, used chiefly in metallurgy and photography.

potassium cyanide

noun

1. a white poisonous granular soluble solid substance used in photography and in extracting gold from its ores. Formula: KCN

Word History and Origins

Origin of potassium cyanide¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

After she survived, Craig ordered a rush shipment of potassium cyanide that he told the supplier was needed for a surgery, according to court documents.

From Seattle Times

Police said he lured his victims to his house for a daytime ritual, where he would then feed them drinks mixed with potassium cyanide and a sedative.

From BBC

The records show authorities in December bought a brick of potassium cyanide, sodium hydroxide pellets and sulfuric acid for producing cyanide gas.

From Seattle Times

Perkovich said a discrepancy between the potassium cyanide obtained by corrections officials and the sodium cyanide called for under state execution protocol "is not a small detail."

From Salon

The department bought a solid brick of potassium cyanide in December for $1,530.

From The Guardian