Cyanide

Cyanide anion

Names
Preferred IUPAC name Cyanide
Systematic IUPAC name Nitridocarbonate(II)
Identifiers
CAS Number	57-12-5
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:17514
ChemSpider	5755
PubChem CID	5975
UNII	OXN4E7L11K Y
InChI InChI=1S/CN/c1-2/q-1 Key: XFXPMWWXUTWYJX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [C-]#N
Properties
Chemical formula	CN−
Molar mass	26.018 g·mol−1
Conjugate acid	Hydrogen cyanide
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	The cyanide ion CN− is one of the most poisonous chemicals. It may cause death in minutes.
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

In chemistry, a cyanide (from Greek kyanos 'dark blue') is a chemical compound that contains a C≡N functional group. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom.^[1]

In inorganic cyanides, the cyanide group is present as the cyanide anion ⁻C≡N. This anion is extremely poisonous. Soluble salts such as sodium cyanide (NaCN) and potassium cyanide (KCN) are highly toxic.^[2] Hydrocyanic acid, also known as hydrogen cyanide, or HCN, is a highly volatile liquid that is produced on a large scale industrially. It is obtained by acidification of cyanide salts.

Organic cyanides are usually called nitriles. In nitriles, the −C≡N group is linked by a single covalent bond to carbon. For example, in acetonitrile (CH₃−C≡N), the cyanide group is bonded to methyl (−CH₃). Although nitriles generally do not release cyanide ions, the cyanohydrins do and are thus toxic.