

Chemical compounds that can release cyanide are known as cyanogenic compounds. Cyanides are found in substantial amounts in certain seeds and fruit stones, e.g., those of bitter almonds, apricots, apples, and peaches.

It is an antifeedant in a number of plants. Removal of cyanide from cassava in Nigeria.Ĭyanides are produced by certain bacteria, fungi, and algae. The negative charge is concentrated on carbon C. The cyanide ion −C≡N is isoelectronic with carbon monoxide −C≡O + and with molecular nitrogen N≡N. Although nitriles generally do not release cyanide ions, the cyanohydrins do and are thus rather toxic. For example, in acetonitrile ( CH 3−C≡N), the cyanide group is bonded to methyl ( −CH 3). In nitriles, the −C≡N group is linked by a single covalent bond to carbon. Organic cyanides are usually called nitriles. It is obtained by acidification of cyanide salts. Hydrocyanic acid, also known as hydrogen cyanide, or HCN, is a highly volatile liquid that is produced on a large scale industrially. Soluble salts such as sodium cyanide (NaCN) and potassium cyanide (KCN) are highly toxic. In inorganic cyanides, the cyanide group is present as the cyanide anion −C≡N. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. In chemistry, a cyanide (from Greek kyanos ' dark blue') is a chemical compound that contains a C≡N functional group.
