It is a common known fact that cyanide and cyanide agents have been used historically as a method of assassination, ritual suicide, and suicides to escape justice. Other uses of cyanide include practical uses like fighting fires, developing photographs, and as an active agent in pesticides. Cyanogen cyanide is a product that once mixed with chloride becomes one of the deadliest gases known to man.

Cyanogen for short is a colorless, but very pungent gas that is given off when this compound is created. It was discovered in 1815, by a French scientist named Gay-Lussac. The early forms of this gas were used in experiments and only had irritating effects on the human body. This of course is if it is administered in small doses because prolonged exposure could result in death.

One of the uses that more complex compounds based on this derivative compound is in chemical warfare. Because this is a gas, military scientist combined this compound with chloride to produce one of the deadliest gas agents known to man. It was used during battle in World War I by both French and British armies.

Besides the military use, this gas is in its base form is also an active ingredient in developing pictures because it draws oxygen away allowing the picture makeup to form as most new cameras use this gas in their internal makeup. However, this may be on the decline with the introduction of digital cameras to the photo taking world.

Because of digital cameras, the only real use for this gas is now as a military weapon. Cyanogen cyanides are extremely toxic materials that, when mixed with chloride, produces a poisonous gas that can kill anyone who inhales it. The most recent use of this chemical compound was when the Iraqi army used it on the Kurds during the 1980’s.