cyanamide

American  

[sahy-an-uh-mid, -mahyd, sahy-uh-nam-ahyd, -id] / saɪˈæn ə mɪd, -ˌmaɪd, ˌsaɪ əˈnæm aɪd, -ɪd /

Also cyanamid

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, unstable, deliquescent solid, CH 2 N 2 , usually produced by the action of ammonia on cyanogen chloride or by the action of sulfuric acid on calcium cyanamide.

2. (not in technical use) calcium cyanamide.

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cyanamide British  

/ saɪˈænəˌmaɪd, -mɪd, saɪˈænəmɪd /

noun

1. Also called: cyanogenamide.  a white or colourless crystalline soluble weak dibasic acid, which can be hydrolysed to urea. Formula: H 2 NCN

2. a salt or ester of cyanamide

3. short for calcium cyanamide

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Etymology

Origin of cyanamide

First recorded in 1830–40; cyan- ² + amide

Example Sentences

Peach farmers have taken individual steps to safeguard their fruit, like by spraying hydrogen cyanamide to simulate chill hours, heating trees with smudge pots, or planting frost-resistant cultivars, but more ambitious action will be required.

From Slate • Jan. 5, 2021

They started with phosphate and four simple carbon-based chemicals, including a cyanide salt called cyanamide.

From Scientific American • Dec. 16, 2020

Nascent hydrogen reduces cyanamide to ammonia and methylamine.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various

Thus when calcium carbide is heated and brought into contact with nitrogen one atom of carbon is given up and two atoms of nitrogen take its place, resulting in the production of cyanamide.

From The Story of Electricity by Munro, John