Cyanides and Nitriles

Abstract

Abstract For purposes of the toxicologist, cyanides and nitriles can be classified into groups based on their common properties. Group 1, inorganic cyanides, includes hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen, and simple salts such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and ammonium cyanide of hydrogen cyanide that dissociate readily to release CN −1 ions. Group 2 includes halogenated compounds such as cyanogen chloride or bromide. Group 3 comprises simple and complex salts such as cobalt cyanide trihydrate, cupric and cuprous cyanide, silver cyanide, and ferricyanide and ferrocyanide salts of hydrogen cyanide that do not dissociate readily to release CN −1 ions. Group 4, organic cyanides, includes cyanide glycosides produced by plants such as amygdalin and linamarin. Group 5, nitriles, have a general structure R‐CNO, and include compounds such as acetonitrile (methyl cyanide), acrylonitrile, and isobutyronitrile. This chapter will cover common cyanide compounds and nitriles.