Interesting facts about Cyanide

Cyanide Facts

1. Cyanide is a chemical compound that can behave as a potent poison. It is very deadly and can exist in numerous forms.

2. Cyanide is mostly seen in gaseous and crystalline forms. In gaseous form, the most know form is Hydrogen Cyanide. Anyhow, Cyanogen Chloride is yet another famous gaseous form of the poison.

3. In crystalline format, it is mostly found as Potassium Cyanide and Sodium Cyanide. Also, cyanide can also be found in liquid form. Hydrogen Cyanide, which is commonly a colorless gas at higher temperatures takes the form of light blue liquid at room temperature.

4. Many people have reported cyanide to have the smell of bitter almond. However, if you don’t get to smell this odor, don’t be surprised because it may not always give off the smell and also everyone cannot sense the smell.

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5. This poison generally happens in many sources in form of other chemicals which later gets metabolized into cyanide inside the body. For example, it can be seen in plants like almonds, lima beans and cassava. It can also be seen in seeds and pits of fruits like peaches, apples and apricots.

6. One of the most common sources of cyanide is cigarette smoke. Also, synthetic material like plastic, when burned, releases combustion products, one of which is cyanide.

7. Many algae, fungi and bacteria are also meant for generating cyanide as a byproduct of their metabolic activities.

8. Though cyanide is very poisonous, it is one of the common chemicals that is broadly used in different industries. For example, cyanide is necessary for the manufacturing of plastics, textiles and paper.

9. Not only that, chemicals which are generally used for photograph development are meant to have cyanide. One of the well known uses of cyanide is in the field of metallurgy where it is utilized for activities like gold extraction from ore, metal cleaning, electroplating etc.

10. It is very common thing to see the use of cyanide in buildings and ships for killing vermin and pests.

11. Cyanide discharge can occur through many ways. For example, one may be exposed to cyanide by breathing air polluted by cyanide. Anyhow, cyanide gas is hazardous only in closed areas. In open air, cyanide gas evaporates very fast, thus lessening the risks.

12. However, cyanide poisoning can occur by eating food, drinking water or may be even touching soil polluted by cyanide.

13. Cyanide is efficient in contaminating air, soil and water either through natural process or through industrial activities. It can pollute air only in its gaseous form – Hydrogen Cyanide, the most poisonous type of cyanide.

14. We know that cyanide is poisonous but how does it affect us? It all depends on which form of cyanide has entered our body, the method through which it has got in and the time for which it has been available in our body.

15. Once inside the body, cyanide stops the cells from using oxygen. As this continues, the cells start to die out slowly.

16. Of all body parts, cyanide attacks the heart and the brain most because these two organs use way more oxygen in comparison to any other organ in the body.

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17. Our body is able to process cyanide in less quantity and make good use of it but in large doses, the capability of the body to process cyanide is fully overwhelmed. When in small quantities, the body tries to convert cyanide into thiocyanate which then passes out through our urine.

18. The body may also make use up the small amounts of cyanide and combine them with several other chemicals to produce Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 which aids in maintaining healthy RBCs or red blood cells and nerve cells.

19. Cyanide also has clinical and medical usage. Under emergency situations, it is often needed to get a fast decrease in blood pressure. This can be attained by using cyanide under clinical supervision.

20. Mild cyanide poisoning can be sensed by symptoms like weakness, restlessness, rapid heart rate, vomiting and nausea, rapid breathing, headache and dizziness. Though mild cyanide poisoning can cause to these symptoms, the presence of these symptoms do not surely hint about cyanide poisoning.

21. In case of poisoning by more quantities of cyanide, a person can show slow heart rate, much drop in blood pressure, consciousness loss, convulsions, lung injury and death due to respiratory failure. Anyhow, as before, just because these symptoms show up, it does not surely mean cyanide poisoning.

22. Did you know that there are a 110 variety of plant families on this planet that are sources of cyanide?

23. Did you know that eating 3.7 pounds of Lima Beans will give a lethal dose of cyanide in a fully grown adult?

24. Did you know that cyanide is really present in our DNA as a building block? It is available in our blood!

25. Cyanide is not at all teratogenic (i.e. disturbing fetus or embryo development) and neither is it carcinogenic to humans.

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26. It can never move up the food chain. This means that, for example, if a fish gets cyanide poisoning, eating that fish will not cause cyanide poisoning in a human, a bear or any animal that eats that poisoned fish.

27. It is not that only microbes and plants generate cyanide. There are many insects that makesthis chemical too. For example, millipedes, moths, beetles, centipedes and even butterflies are meant for synthesizing and excreting cyanide as defensive move.

28. People usually confuse cyanide as a heavy metal. Some even think it is radioactive. Many believe that it can cause to cell mutation in humans. All these are just myths. They are all wrong.

29. Cyanide is a compound on its own. It is produced when carbon atoms and nitrogen atoms mix together and combine using triple bonds (a bit of chemistry that you can safely ignore if you want to). Actually this compound mixes with other metals and elements to for different other complex compounds. Those complex compounds can breakup to release cyanide.

30. It is true that cyanide in few forms is really toxic but it has a really bad reputation, which is worse than the toxicity. Thanks to many movies that created the myth that cyanide poisoning invariably kills. The truth is that cyanide poisoning can be treated and antidotes are available.

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