What are the physical properties of cyanide toxins?
Most deliberate intoxications with cyanide have resulted from exposure to cyanide salts or cyanide gases. Prototypical cyanide salts include sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide. Both are white, granular, industrial chemicals used for a variety of applications, including electroplating and the manufacturing of plastics. Hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen chloride are also used by industry; these are highly volatile liquids that form gases at room temperature. All of these agents are irritants that can penetrate skin and mucosa. Cyanide salts generally pose the greatest threat through ingestion such as occurred in the Tylenol-tampering cases in Chicago in 1982. Cyanide gases diffuse from their point of release. If released indoors or underground, they can quickly achieve high concentrations, resulting in rapid fatalities. Although the odor of bitter almonds or peach kernels is associated with sodium, potassium, and hydrogen cyanide, only 40% to 60% of people can detect this characteristic od
