hydrogen cyanide
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hydrogen
(H) [hi´dro-jen]a chemical element, atomic number 1, atomic weight 1.00797. (See Appendix 6.) It exists as the mass 1 isotope (protium, or light or ordinary hydrogen), mass 2 isotope (deuterium, heavy hydrogen), and mass 3 isotope (tritium).
hydrogen cyanide an extremely poisonous colorless liquid or gas, HCN, a decomposition product of various naturally occurring glycosides and a common cause of cyanide poisoning. Inhalation of the gas can cause death within a minute. Called also hydrocyanic acid.
heavy hydrogen deuterium.
hydrogen ion concentration the degree of concentration of hydrogen ions (the acid element) in a solution. Its symbol is pH, and it expresses the degree to which a solution is acidic or alkaline. The pH range extends from 0 to 14, pH 7 being neutral, a pH of less than 7 indicating acidity, and one above 7 indicating alkalinity. See also acid-base balance.
hydrogen peroxide H2O2, an antiseptic with a mildly antibacterial action. A 3 per cent solution foams on touching skin or mucous membrane and appears to have a mechanical cleansing action.
hydrogen sulfide H2S, a poisonous gas with an offensive smell, released from decaying organic material, natural gas, petroleum, and sulfur deposits, and sometimes used as a chemical reagent.
hy·dro·cy·an·ic ac·id (HCN),
(hī'drō-sī-an'ik as'id),HCN; A colorless, toxic liquid, with the odor of bitter almonds, present in bitter almonds (amygdalin), the stones of peaches, plums, and other drupes, and laurel leaves; inhalation of 300 ppm causes death.
Synonym(s): hydrogen cyanide, prussic acid
hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
an extremely poisonous, colorless, toxic, volatile liquid or gas with the aroma of bitter almonds. It occurs naturally in almonds and in the stone pits of peaches, plums, and other fruits. Inhalation of the gas can cause death within a minute. When dissolved in water, it is called hydrocyanic acid or prussic acid.
hy·dro·gen cy·a·nide
(HCN) (hī'drō-jen sī'ăn-īd)A highly toxic cellular asphyxiant, HCN, used as a fumigant and also as a chemical-warfare agent. Its NATO code is AC.
hydrogen
a chemical element, atomic number 1, atomic weight 1.00797, symbol H. See Table 6. It exists as the mass 1 isotope (protium, or light or ordinary hydrogen), mass 2 isotope (deuterium, heavy hydrogen), and mass 3 isotope (tritium).
hydrogen bonding
weak electrostatic attraction between one electronegative atom and the hydrogen atom covalently linked to a second electronegative atom.
hydrogen breath test
detects hydrogen production as a product of bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates, an indicator of inflammatory bowel disease or carbohydrate malabsorption.
hydrogen cyanide
hydrocyanic acid.
heavy hydrogen
hydrogen having double the mass of ordinary hydrogen; deuterium.
hydrogen ion balance
see acid-base balance.
hydrogen ion concentration
the degree of concentration of hydrogen ions (the acid element) in a solution. Its symbol is pH, and expresses the degree to which a solution is acidic or alkaline. The pH range extends from 0 to 14, pH 7 being neutral. A pH of less than 7 indicates acidity, above 7 indicates alkalinity. See also acid-base balance and ph.
hydrogen peroxide
H2O2, used in solution as an antibacterial agent. A 3% solution foams on touching skin or mucous membrane and appears to have a mechanical cleansing action.
hydrogen peroxide-based teat dips
see teat dip.
hydrogen sulfide
an ill-smelling, colorless, poisonous gas, H2S; much used as a chemical reagent. Hydrogen sulfide is often present in gases from oil wells and from manure vats under slatted floor barns. Poisoning of cattle causes diarrhea, dehydration, dyspnea and death in convulsions. The feces are black and the breath smells of hydrogen sulfide. Called also hydrosulfuric acid. See also manure pit gas poisoning.
hydrogen swell
defective canned meat can. Can is distended due to production of hydrogen as a result of corrosion of the can surface.