Acetylcyanide

/əˌsiːtəlˈsaɪəˌnaɪd/ noun

Definition

A chemical compound combining an acetyl group with cyanide; a specialized reagent used in organic chemistry synthesis.

Etymology

From acetyl + cyanide (from cyan- relating to blue, since Prussian blue contains cyanide). A technical compound in synthetic chemistry.

Kelly Says

While cyanide is famously poisonous, acetylcyanide and similar compounds are useful tools in the chemistry lab—chemists have learned to harness the reactivity of dangerous compounds by incorporating them into larger structures that can be handled more safely.

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