cyanic acid

noun

, Chemistry.

1. an unstable, poisonous, liquid acid, HOCN, isomeric with fulminic acid.

cyanic acid

/ saɪˈænɪk /

noun

1. a colourless poisonous volatile liquid acid that hydrolyses readily to ammonia and carbon dioxide. Formula: HOCN Compare isocyanic acid fulminic acid

cyanic acid

/ sī-ăn′ĭk /

1. A poisonous, unstable, and highly volatile organic acid used to prepare cyanates. Chemical formula: HOCN.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyanic acid¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Substituted ammonias were also made to combine with cyanic acid, and it was found that the substituted ammonium cyanates produced pass much more readily into the corresponding ureas than ammonium cyanate itself.

From Project Gutenberg

In cyanuric acid, hydrated cyanic acid, and cyamelide, we have three such isomeric compounds.

From Project Gutenberg

Cyanogen chloride, CNCl, may be regarded as the chloride of cyanic acid.

From Project Gutenberg

Hydrated cyanic acid is a volatile and highly blistering fluid, which cannot be brought into contact with water without being instantaneously decomposed.

From Project Gutenberg

And, again inversely, cyamelide can be converted into cyanuric acid and hydrated cyanic acid.

From Project Gutenberg