potassium cyanide

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, granular, water-soluble, poisonous powder, KCN, having a faint almondlike odor, used chiefly in metallurgy and photography.

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potassium cyanide British  

noun

1. a white poisonous granular soluble solid substance used in photography and in extracting gold from its ores. Formula: KCN

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Etymology

Origin of potassium cyanide

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

The records show authorities in December bought a brick of potassium cyanide, sodium hydroxide pellets and sulfuric acid for producing cyanide gas.

From Seattle Times

Perkovich said a discrepancy between the potassium cyanide obtained by corrections officials and the sodium cyanide called for under state execution protocol "is not a small detail."

From Salon

The department bought a solid brick of potassium cyanide in December for $1,530.

From The Guardian

Vigilant viewers will soon observe that Greta, though hospitable, is about as kindly as potassium cyanide.

From The New Yorker

A months-long investigation failed to establish “in what way and at what point in time Mr. Praljak had obtained the potassium cyanide he used,” the Hague Public Prosecution Service said in a statement.

From Fox News