Potassium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula KCN. This colorless crystalline compound, similar in appearance to sugar, is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications include jewelry for chemical gilding and buffing.
Cyanide is a potent inhibitor of cellular respiration, acting on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase and hence blocking oxidative phosphorylation. This prevents the body from oxidizing food to produce useful energy. Lactic acidosis then occurs as a consequence of anaerobic metabolism.
Initially, acute cyanide poisoning causes a red or ruddy complexion in the victim because the tissues are not able to use the oxygen in the blood. The effects of potassium and sodium cyanide are identical. The person loses consciousness, and death eventually follows over a period of time. During this period, convulsions may occur. Death occurs not by cardiac arrest, but by hypoxia of neural tissue.
General Description :
White amorphous lumps or a crystalline mass with a faint odor of
bitter almonds. Density 1.52 g / cm3 Toxic by skin absorption through
open wounds, by ingestion. Heating to decomposition produces toxic
fumes. Used for gold and silver extraction, in chemical analysis, to
make other chemicals, and as an insecticide.
In
respiration, the enzyme cytochrome 'c' oxidase present in the blood
binds oxygen and transfers electrons to oxygen, converting it to water
and simultaneously brings about the oxidation of ferrocytochrome 'c' to
ferricytochrome 'c'. When the cyanide ion of potassium cyanide enters
the bloodstream, it preferentially binds to the enzyme cytochrome 'c'
oxidase and thereby blocks the oxygen binding site of the enzyme.
The electron transfer necessary for conversion of oxygen to water cannot occur and the oxidation of ferrocytochrome 'c' to ferricytochrome 'c' by the enzyme is inhibited. This stops respiration, leading to instantaneous death.
The electron transfer necessary for conversion of oxygen to water cannot occur and the oxidation of ferrocytochrome 'c' to ferricytochrome 'c' by the enzyme is inhibited. This stops respiration, leading to instantaneous death.