Cyanide Poisoning

Making chemical compounds is one of the jobs that scientist have been studying and undertaking since the Great Enlightenment that followed the Renaissance and Reformation eras in human history. There have been great advancements in medical technology due to experimenting but unfortunately, we have also created some of the most deadly poisons known to man in creating cyanide. Cyanide poisoning is a serious detriment to human health and will kill anyone who ingests this substance.

There are two kinds of cyanide and both are lethal to the human body. The first is potassium cyanide, whose chemical makeup is KCN. K stands for potassium, the C is for carbon, and the N is the symbol for nitrogen. This ionic compound is produced by adding water to hydrogen cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide is the base form of this substance and is also lethal but requires larger quantities to be fatal.

What makes these compounds lethal is that they attack the oxygen carrying cells in the blood. Cyanide breaks down the mitochondrial parts of oxygen carrying blood cells which render them incapable of getting oxygen to the brain and muscles. Because no oxygen gets to the vital organs, the brain shuts down causing cardiac arrest. Once cardiac arrest is induced, there really is no chance of saving a life.

If a person ingests this compound, they should seek immediate medical treatment because there is an antidote for this poison available. However, speed is the key in treating this condition because, as previously stated, once the brain shuts down, there is little to no chance of recovery. The antidote consists of hydroxycobalamin, which aids the hemoglobin in the oxygen cells to repair the mitochondria.

Cyanide poisoning has been used to kill people and been used to commit suicide throughout history. While there are practical uses for this compound in mining, photography, and in farming, this substance should always be handled with great care. When working with this substance, always have emergency procedures nearby and keep this substance out of the reach of people at all times to avoid accidental ingestion.