


It is a cellular respiratory enzyme and it plays a crucial role in the life-supporting process of ATP synthesis by reducing molecular oxygen to water

HCN was first isolated from Prussian blue pigment, and for many years was referred to as ‘prussic acid’ because of this association. Before cyanide, there was hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Therefore, consuming cyanide in this way isn’t harmful.

When found here, the CN- ion is not readily released. Nitriles used in pharmaceuticals, like citalopram or cimetidine, contain cyanide, as well as everyday food items like apple seeds, almonds, tapioca and spinach. This is why we know cyanide as the sinister poison used in murder mysteries and genocides, but humans are actually exposed to this compound more often than you would think. This is the component that makes cyanide dangerous as it behaves as a metabolic toxin. These substances are all extremely toxic because they release the CN- ion. Known as a cyano group, it exists as a colourless anion (CN-) in inorganic compounds like sodium cyanide, potassium cyanide and the notorious hydrogen cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide was originally formed during the process of making Prussian blue pigment, and so cyanide gets its name from the Greek word kyanos, meaning dark blue.Ĭyanide is a chemical compound that is comprised of a carbon-nitrogen triple bond (C≡N). How Does Sodium Thiosulphate Cure Cyanide Poisoning?.
