isocyanic acid

[ ahy-soh-sahy-an-ik, ahy-soh- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. an unstable acid, CHNO, tautomeric with cyanic acid, known only in the form of its salts.

isocyanic acid

/ ˌaɪsəʊsaɪˈænɪk /

noun

1. a hypothetical acid known only in the form of its compounds. Formula: HNCO

Word History and Origins

Origin of isocyanic acid¹

First recorded in 1890–95; iso- + cyanic acid