Cyanide

Cyanide Is A Chemical Substance Typically Found In Nature, But Also Manufactured Synthetically For A Variety Of Uses In Industry And Agriculture. Cyanide Ions Are Toxic To Humans And Most Animals, And Can Be Fatal In High Doses. It Has Been Used As A Chemical Weapon (In Its Gas Form), Has Been Used In Gold Mining, And Is Used For Some Chemical Processes Involving Metals And Other Substances. In Its Natural Form, Cyanide Is Typically Found In Low Concentrations In Various Plants And Foods, Including Almonds, Cassava, And Certain Other Fruits, Vegetables, And Grains. In Nature, Cyanide Can Also Be Produced By Certain Bacteria In Soils And Aquatic Environments. It Occurs Through A Process Called Nitrification, During Which Nitrogen-Containing Organic Compounds Are Chemically Altered To Produce Cyanide. Some Soils Contain High Levels Of Free Cyanide Ions, But Generally In Concentrations Low Enough Where It Does Not Pose A Threat To Humans Or Animals. The Industrial Uses Of Cyanide Mainly Involve The Manufacturing Of Gold And Silver. Cyanide Is Often Used In Gold Mining Processes To Leech Gold Molecules From Rock, As It Reacts With The Gold To Form A Water-Soluble Compound That Can Be Extracted. Silver And Other Metal Processing Also Make Use Of Cyanide Compounds, As It Facilitates Access To The Metals In Their Ore. Cyanide Can Also Be Used For Toxicity Testing Of Insecticides And Herbicides, And Has Been Used To Produce Certain Dyes Or Other Chemicals. The Use Of Gas Warfare Involving Cyanide Was First Employed During World War I, With German And British Troops Using The Gas Form In Battle. Today, Its Use In Warfare Remains Banned By The Geneva Protocol. In Humans, Cyanide Is Very Toxic, With An Acute Dose Of 1.5 - 3.5 Milligrams Per Kilogram Of Bodyweight Causing Death Within Minutes. Ingestion Or Inhalation Of The Gas Form Of Cyanide Is The Most Lethal Form Of Exposure. Humans And Other Animals Can Also Be Exposed To It Through Ingestion Or Absorption In The Intestines. In General, The Low Concentrations Of Cyanide Found In Its Natural State Do Not Pose A Significant Health Threat. It Is Important To Note, However, That High Doses May Be Dangerous And Should Be Avoided.