Cyanide is found in natural substances in some foods and certain plants which include the seeds and pits of some common fruits.
Cyanide is also used in manufacturing to make textiles, plastics and paper and is used in chemicals used to develop photographs.
Low levels of cyanides are found in nature and in products we commonly eat and use.
Cyanides can be produced by certain bacteria, fungi and algae.
Cyanides are also found in cigarette smoke, in vehicle exhaust, and in foods such as spinach, bamboo shoots, almonds, lima beans, fruit pits and tapioca.
Cyanide is a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that interferes with the body's ability to use oxygen.
Cyanide can be a colorless gas or liquid, such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN) or cyanogen chloride (CNCl).
Cyanide can also be a crystal (solid) form such as sodium cyanide (NaCN) or potassium cyanide (KCN).
In chemistry, cyanide is a chemical compound that contains a C≡N functional group.
This group, known as the cyano group, consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom.
In inorganic cyanides, the cyanide group is present as the cyanide anion ⁻C≡N.
This anion is extremely poisonous.