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

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 • Jun. 2, 2021

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

From The New Yorker • Mar. 1, 2019

With Dutch police opening their own investigation, the tribunal has appointed Gambia’s chief justice Hassan Jallow to find out how Praljak, 72, obtained the bottle of potassium cyanide that Netherlands prosecutors said killed him.

From The Guardian • Dec. 2, 2017

Kaczynski said he has "never even possessed any potassium cyanide."

From Salon • May 26, 2011

If wrought iron, put in the charge 20 parts, by weight, of common salt, 2 parts of potassium cyanide, .3 part of potassium bichromate, .15 part of broken glass.

From Practical Mechanics for Boys by Zerbe, James Slough