What is cyanohydrin?
cyanohydrin is a chemical unit known as a functional group. In chemistry, the functional group is a distinct unit of atoms, which form part of the structure of larger molecules, but can also exist as separate compounds. Functional groups act as a unit during chemical reactions and will be affected in a similar way during chemical reactions, regardless of the chemical compound they can be part of. Cyanohydrins, some of which are found in nature, are organic compounds and are important for many industrial applications such as carboxylic and amino acid production.
The term cyanohydrin comes from units that make up such a molecule. Each cyanohydrin consists of a cyanide group (CN), a hydroxyl group (OH), a carbon atom (C) and two other sub -units that can be hydrogen atoms (H) or any of the two chemical groups (R) called alkyls and aly. For this reason, the general chemical formula of any cyanohydrin is written as r 2 sub> h (OH) CN.
Ketons and aldehydes, which are two classes of organic molecules, if combined with cyanide or nitrile, can lead to the formation of cyanohydrins. Cyanides and nitriles are chemicals that have either a cyanide group or an intra group as part of their chemical structure that contain hydrogen and carbon atom, but are bound in different ways. Hydrogen cyanide, one of the most common cyanides, is extremely toxic chemicals. Many people mistakenly assume that cyanide is only one chemical, but in fact there are several cyanides, including sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide, all of which can be used to produce cyanoydrins. Kyanohydrins can be prepared in many ways using cyanide or nitrile compounds, sometimes in combination.
Many of the most common cyanohydrins are toxic or otherwise dangerous. Acetone cyanohydrin, which is used in the production of acrylic and other chicory such as pesticides, is very dangerous. It is the irritability of the skin andEye, can be fatal if its vapors are inhaled and is also a danger of explosion. Some naturally occurring cyanohydrins such as mandelonitril and amygdalin are found in very small amounts in the pits of certain stone fruits, such as some plums and apricots. These compounds usually do not occur in sufficiently large quantities to be dangerous, but if ingestion in quantities can be harmful or fatal.