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hydrocyanic acid

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noun
  1. a colorless, highly poisonous liquid, HCN, an aqueous solution of hydrogen cyanide.
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Origin of hydrocyanic acid

First recorded in 1810–20
Also called prussic acid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hydrocyanic acid

Historical Examples

  • Gabriel jerked up his revolver, as he ran, the terrible weapon shooting bullets charged with hydrocyanic-acid gas.

    The Air Trust

    George Allan England

  • Hydrocyanic-acid gas is effective in destroying all animal life in buildings.

    House Rats and Mice

    David E. Lantz

British Dictionary definitions for hydrocyanic acid

hydrocyanic acid

noun
  1. another name for hydrogen cyanide, esp when in aqueous solution
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
hydrocyanic acid in Medicine

hydrocyanic acid

(hī′drō-sī-ăn′ĭk)
n.
  1. An aqueous solution of hydrogen cyanide that is a poisonous weak acid.prussic acid
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
hydrocyanic acid in Science

hydrocyanic acid

[hī′drō-sī-ăn′ĭk]
  1. An aqueous solution of hydrogen cyanide, having a characteristic smell of bitter almonds. Also called prussic acid
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.