Cyanoaurate

/ˌsaɪ.ə.noʊˈɔr.eɪt/ noun

Definition

A chemical compound containing both cyanide groups and gold, used in metallurgy and specialized chemical synthesis.

Etymology

From cyano- (cyanide group) + aurate (from Latin aurum 'gold'). Combined in chemical nomenclature to describe gold-cyanide complexes used in refining and plating.

Kelly Says

Gold miners and refiners have used cyanide-gold compounds for centuries—the cyanide is so good at dissolving gold that it revolutionized gold extraction, though it's incredibly toxic and requires extreme care.

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