Potassium cyanide: Poisoning inhibits oxygen transport

Potassium cyanide poisoning inhibits oxygen transport in the body, leading to death; symptoms include giddiness, headache, and skin discoloration. Potassium cyanide is a white crystalline salt known for its extremely poisonous nature. It has a faint bitter almond-like odour because of the emission of some amount of hydrogen cyanide upon hydrolysis. The salt is used in metallurgy to extract gold and silver from their ores. Potassium hydroxide is a toxic compound; it affects all cells and organs by interfering with the ability of a cell to utilise oxygen. In this Chemistry article, you will learn about its structure, properties ... What is Potassium Cyanide? Potassium cyanide is a form of cyanide salt which contains equal numbers of potassium cations (K+) and cyanide anions (CN-). Potassium cyanide is also called cyanide of potassium or cyanopotassium. The chemical formula of Potassium cyanide is KCN. KnowHOW team explains: The common idea that potassium cyanide causes instant death is a huge myth. What actually happens after one consumes the poison is that one becomes unconscious immediately and then dies 10-15 minutes later. fter entering the body through the mouth potassium cyanide reacts with ...