Anoxia (hypoxia) is the lack of a normal supply of oxygen to body tissues, or the inability of the tissues to use the oxygen. Anoxic anoxia occurs when blood flowing through the lungs does not pick up enough oxygen. This can happen when there is a reduced amount of oxygen in the air, such as at altitudes above 3,000 meters. The blood also can fail to pick up sufficient oxygen because of defects in the lungs or because of obstruction of the air passages involved in breathing. Rapid, deep breathing is a common symptom of anoxic anoxia. The condition is often accompanied by cyanosis, a bluish colouration of the skin. Severe cases may lead to loss of consciousness and even death. Anaemic anoxia occurs when the blood cannot carry its normal load of oxygen. This happens when the blood has insufficient amounts of haemoglobin, or when the haemoglobin is altered by carbon monoxide or other poisons. Stagnant anoxia develops when the blood flows so slowly that it loses most of its oxygen before completing its course through a tissue. Part of the tissue thus receives little or no oxygen. An example of stagnant anoxia occurs during cold temperatures when blood vessels under the fingernails and in the lips constrict, causing cyanosis in those body parts. Histotoxic anoxia is caused by poisons that make the tissues incapable of using the oxygen supplied. Cyanide is one such poison. Research Anoxia
BBC is an abbreviation for Bromo-benzyl-cyanide, a tear gas used during the Second World War. It had a smell faintly of watercress. It caused pain in the eyes, a copious flow of tears, spasms of the eyelids and irritation of shaved skin.
Zyklon-B was a poison gas used in Nazi extermination camps. It was a cyanidecompound originally developed for fumigation purposes in the 1920s. It was actually a crystalline compound which gave off hydrogencyanide gas when exposed to the air. It was first used against humans in a euthanasia programme in 1939, aimed at ridding Germany of lunatics, incurable invalids, and other 'undesirables'. The victims were induced to enter a 'shower bath', Zyklon-B was released, and the gas killed them in a few minutes. When the extermination camps were set up, this method was adopted as standard and was responsible for several million deaths. The inventor, Dr Bruno Tesch, was convicted of war crimes and executed for his manufacture and supply of the substance to the camps. Research Zyklon-B
Acetaldehyde is a colourless liquid with a pungent, fruity odour. It is used primarily as a chemical intermediate, principally for the production of acetic acid, pyridine and pyridinebases, peracetic acid, pentaerythritol, butylene glycol, and chloral. It is used in the production of esters, particularly ethyl acetate and isobutyl acetate. It is also used in the synthesis of crotonaldehyde, flavour and fragrance acetals, acetaldehyde 1,1-dimethylhydrazone, acetaldehyde cyanohydrin, acetaldehyde oxime, and various acetic esters, paraldehyde, metaldehyde, polymers, and various halogenated derivatives. Acetaldehyde is used in denatured alcohol. In the past it was a chemical intermediate for 2-ethyl-1-butanol, glyoxal, acrolein, and acetaldehyde-aniline condensate. Acetaldehyde has been used in the manufacture of aniline dyes and synthetic rubber, to silvermirrors, and to hardengelatine fibres.
Acetaldehyde has been used in the production of polyvinyl acetal resins, in fuel compositions, and to inhibit mould growth on leather. It is also used in the manufacture of disinfectants, drugs, perfumes, explosives, lacquers, varnishes, photographic chemicals, phenolic and urea resins, rubber accelerators, antioxidants, and room air deodorisers. It is also a pesticide intermediate.
Acetaldehyde is a compound for the intended use as a flavouring agent and adjuvant. It is an important component of food flavourings added to milk products, baked goods, fruit juices, candy, desserts, and soft drinks; the concentration of acetaldehyde in food is usually up to .047%. It is an especially useful synthetic flavouring ingredient to impart orange, apple, and butter flavours, and is used in the manufacture of vinegar and yeast and as a fruit and fish preservative.
Acetaldehyde is a volatile and flammable liquid. It is miscible in water, alcohol, ether, benzene, gasoline, solvent, naphtha, toluene, xylene, turpentine, acetone, and other common organic solvents. It is a highly reactive compound that undergoes numerous condensation, addition, and polymerisation reactions. It is dangerous when exposed to heat or flame; it can react vigorously with oxidising material, acid anhydrides, alcohols, ketones, phenols, halogens, isocyanates, and strong alkalis and amines. It is also incompatible with acids, bases, alcohol, ammonia, amines, phenols, ketones, and hydrogen cyanide. It will polymerise readily in the presence of trace metals. Acetaldehyde can form unstable or explosive peroxides with exposure to the air. It may polymerise under the influence of air and heat, acids, or bases with potential of fire or explosion. It is polymerised violently by concentrated sulphuric acid. Rubber products decompose on contact with acetaldehyde, but it is not corrosive to most metals. It is also known as acetic aldehyde, ethanal, NCI-C56326, and ethyl aldehyde. Research Acetaldehyde
The cyanides are salts of hydrocyanic acid, Potassium cyanide is used in electro-plating, and in large quantities to separate gold from its ores, especially in South Africa. Research Cyanide
Cyanogen is a colourless gas with a peculiarly characteristic peach-blossom odour. It is inflammable and extremely poisonous. It is obtained in combination, forming an alkaline cyanide when nitrogen or a nitrogenous compound is strongly ignited with carbon and soda or potash. It conducts itself like a member of the halogen group of elements, and shows a tendency to form complex compounds. It is derived from Prussian blue, and was first obtained in the free state by Gay Lussac in 1815, being the first instance of the isolation of a compoundradical.
Cyanogen is found in the commercial substances, potassium cyanide, or prussiate of potash, yellow prussiate of potash, Prussian blue, Turnbull's blue, prussic acid, etc. Research Cyanogen
The Cyanotype process is a photographic picture obtained by the use of a cyanide. This process was formerly in very common use by architects and engineers for copying plans, producing an image with white lines upon a blue ground (hence a blue print). Sensitive paper was made by brushing it over with a solution of ferric oxalate (10 grains to the ounce); it was then exposed under the positive and treated with a solution of potassium ferricyanide, by which the image was developed. The colour of the ground was deepened by subsequent washing with a solution of potassium bisulphate. Research Cyanotype
A flux is a substance or mixture added to assist the fusion of minerals. In the large way, limestone and fluorite are used as fluxes. In the smelting of iron the flux must be such that it will combine with the earthy matter of the ore, and form a slag, which must neither be too refractory nor fusible. The fluxes made use of in assays or chemical experiments consist usually of alkalies and alkaline salts, as borax, potassium cyanide, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, common salt, which render the earthy mixtures fusible by converting them into glass. The fluxes used in pottery are various, but almost all consist of litharge or red-lead, borax, carbonates of potassium and sodium, and sand. In soldering, a flux is a substance used to keep the surfaces which have to be soldered together clean, by reducing any oxides which may form to the metallic state. Research Flux
Hydrocyanic Acid (Prussic Acid) was discovered by Scheele in 1782, and first prepared in a pure state by Gay-Lussac in 1811. It is found in the kernels of bitter almonds, peaches, apricots, plums, cherries and quinces and various plants leaves including beech, cherry and laurel. It is one of the most toxic substances known and is used to prepare cyanide. Hydrocyanic acid was originally known as Prussic acid on account of being the acid of Prussian Blue. Research Hydrocyanic Acid
Abbreviations
Research Anoxia
