cyanogen
(noun) a colorless toxic gas with a pungent almond odor; has been used in chemical warfare
Source: WordNet® 3.1
cyanogen (countable and uncountable, plural cyanogens)
(organic compound) The pseudohalogen (CN)2; a colourless, poisonous gas used as a rocket propellant, an insecticide and in chemical warfare.
Synonyms: ethanedinitrile, oxalonitrile, dicyanogen, nitriloacetonitrile
(chemistry) The radical -CN.
Source: Wiktionary
Cy*an"o*gen (s-n"-jn), n. Etym: [Gr. -gen: cf. F. cyanogène. So called because it produced blue dyes.] (Chem.)
Definition: A colorless, inflammable, poisonous gas, C2N2, with a peach- blossom odor, so called from its tendency to form blue compounds; obtained by heating ammonium oxalate, mercuric cyanide, etc. It is obtained in combination, forming an alkaline cyanide when nitrogen or a nitrogenous compound is strongly ignited with carbon and soda or potash. It conducts itself like a member of the halogen group of elements, and shows a tendency to form complex compounds. The name is also applied to the univalent radical, CN (the half molecule of cyanogen proper), which was one of the first compound radicals recognized.
Note: Cyanogen is found in the commercial substances, potassium cyanide, or prussiate of potash, yellow prussiate of potash, Prussian blue, Turnbull's blue, prussic acid, etc.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
5 May 2024
(noun) the social control of offenders through a system of imprisonment and rehabilitation and probation and parole
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.
