Cyanformic

/ˌsaɪænˈfɔːrmɪk/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or containing a cyanide group combined with formic acid; describing compounds with both cyan and formic acid elements.

Etymology

From 'cyan-' (from cyanide chemistry) + 'formic' (relating to formic acid, from Latin 'formica' meaning ant). A chemical adjective.

Kelly Says

Formic acid gets its name from ants—it's the chemical that makes ant bites sting—and when chemists combine formic acid with cyanide elements, they create compounds so unstable they rarely exist outside laboratories.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.