hydrogen cyanide


noun

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

Origin of hydrogen cyanide

First recorded in 1880–85

British Dictionary definitions for hydrogen cyanide

hydrogen cyanide

noun

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 called: hydrocyanic acid

Medical definitions for hydrogen cyanide

hydrogen cyanide

n.

A colorless, volatile, extremely poisonous flammable liquid miscible in water and used in the manufacture of dyes and fumigants.

Scientific definitions for hydrogen cyanide

hydrogen cyanide

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.