cyanogen

[ sahy-an-uh-juhn, -jen ]

noun

1. a colorless, poisonous, flammable, water-soluble gas, C 2 N 2 , having an almondlike odor: used chiefly in organic synthesis.
2. cyano group.

cyanogen

/ saɪˈænədʒɪn /

noun

1. an extremely poisonous colourless flammable gas with an almond-like odour: has been used in chemical warfare. Formula: (CN) 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyanogen¹

First recorded in 1820–30; cyano- ¹ + -gen

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyanogen¹

C19: from French cyanogène; see cyano- , -gen ; so named because it is one of the constituents of Prussian blue

Example Sentences

Separating light from 2I/Borisov into its component parts, his team found a signature of cyanogen, a molecule made of a carbon atom and a nitrogen atom bonded together.

From Seattle Times

Spectra of the comet at first suggested it had an overall reddish hue and was emitting cyanogen gas, which is also found in Solar System comets.

From Science Magazine

Using telescopes on the island of La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands, a team of astronomers led by Alan Fitzsimmons of Queen’s University Belfast detected cyanogen in the gaseous cloud around the comet.

From New York Times

Sadly, it’s not kryptonite, or even unobtanium, but cyanogen, a simple but toxic molecule made up of two carbon and two nitrogen atoms.

From Science Magazine

Previously the site was home to a Tokyo Gas plant that converted coal into gas, a process that involved benzene and cyanogen, among other toxic substances.

From Washington Post