Cyanogen

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cyanogen \Cy*an"o*gen\ (s?-?n"?-j?n), n. [Gr. ky`anos a dark
     blue substance + -gen: cf. F. cyanog[`e]ne. So called because
     it produced blue dyes.] (Chem.)
     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.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cyanogen
       n : a colorless toxic gas with a pungent almond odor; has been
           used in chemical warfare