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Webster 1913 Edition
Cyanogen
Cy-an′o-gen
(s?-?n′?-j?n)
, Noun.
[Gr.
κύανοσ
a dark blue substance + -gen
: cf. F. cyanogène
. So called because it produced blue dyes.] (Chem.)
A colorless, inflammable, poisonous gas,
C2N2
, with a peach-blossom odor, so called from its tendency to form blue compounds; obtained by heating ammonium oxalate, mercuric cyanide, etc. It is obtained in combination, forming an alkaline cyanide when nitrogen or a nitrogenous compound is strongly ignited with carbon and soda or potash. It conducts itself like a member of the halogen group of elements, and shows a tendency to form complex compounds. The name is also applied to the univalent radical, CN
(the half molecule of cyanogen proper), which was one of the first compound radicals recognized. ☞
Cyanogen
is found in the commercial substances, potassium cyanide, or prussiate of potash, yellow prussiate of potash, Prussian blue, Turnbull’s blue, prussic acid, etc. Webster 1828 Edition
Cyanogen
CYANOGEN
,Noun.