hydrogen cyanide

noun

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of hydrogen cyanide

1 : a poisonous usually gaseous compound HCN that has the odor of bitter almonds

2 : hydrocyanic acid

Recent Examples of hydrogen cyanide from the Web

The last case was in 1999, when Arizona used clouds of hydrogen cyanide to execute an inmate.

— author: denise grady, jan hoffman, Anchorage Daily News, "States turn to an unproven method of execution: nitrogen gas," 8 May 2018
In 2012, South Korea estimated the North had between 2,500 and 5,000 metric tons of chemical arms, including mustard gas, hydrogen cyanide, and highly lethal nerve agents including sarin, soman, and VX.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The U.S. Army Is Training to Explore, Fight in North Korea’s Maze of Tunnels," 18 Dec. 2017
This ice cloud is a hybrid of hydrogen cyanide and benzene, which condensed together.

— ashley strickland, CNN, "What Cassini learned about Saturn during its death dive," 24 Oct. 2017
The sodium cyanide quickly reacts with moisture in the animal’s mouth, releasing hydrogen cyanide gas.

— National Geographic, "Dog's Death Spotlights Use of Cyanide 'Bombs' to Kill Predators," 20 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hydrogen cyanide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hydrogen cyanide

1869

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Medical Dictionary

hydrogen cyanide

noun

medical Definition of hydrogen cyanide

1 : a poisonous usually gaseous compound HCN that has the odor of bitter almonds

2 : hydrocyanic acid

Learn More about hydrogen cyanide

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hydrogen cyanide

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hydrogen cyanide

Definition of hydrogen cyanide

Recent Examples of hydrogen cyanide from the Web

First Known Use of hydrogen cyanide

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hydrogen cyanide

medical Definition of hydrogen cyanide

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hydrogen cyanide

Definition of hydrogen cyanide

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First Known Use of hydrogen cyanide

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hydrogen cyanide

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