A chemical compound formed by condensing benzaldehyde with hydrogen cyanide; an intermediate in organic synthesis.
From 'benzal-' (benzaldehyde) + 'cyanhydrin' (from 'cyano-' meaning cyanide plus 'hydrin' for hydroxyl). Cyanohydrins are important in making pharmaceuticals.
Cyanohydrins seem dangerous with 'cyanide' in the name, but they're actually controlled chemical tools—under the right laboratory conditions, they build useful molecules without hazard.
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