Chemical Products List

Cyanide / nitrile

Cyanides and nitriles are two distinct groups of compounds that share a common nitrogen-carbon bond but differ significantly in their chemical properties and uses. Cyanides, such as sodium cyanide (NaCN) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), are highly toxic due to their ability to inhibit cellular respiration by binding irreversibly to cytochrome c oxidase, blocking the transport of electrons in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. They are commonly used in industrial processes, such as gold and silver extraction, as well as in chemical synthesis. In contrast, nitriles are organic compounds characterized by a carbon-triple bond nitrogen (C≡N) functional group. They are generally less toxic than cyanides and find applications in the pharmaceutical industry as intermediates for producing pharmaceuticals like acrylonitrile, which is used in the production of synthetic fibers and resins.