A cyanide is any chemical compound that contains the cyano group (C≡N), which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Inorganic cyanides are hydrogen cyanide salts in which cyanide is generally the anion CN-. Organic compounds that have a -C≡N functional group bonded to an alkyl residue are called nitriles in IUPAC nomenclature. The cyanide radical CN is commonly produced in reactions and has been identified in interstellar space. Of the many kinds of cyanide compounds, some are gases, others are solids or liquids. Those that can release the cyanide ion CN- are highly toxic.
An example of a nitrile is CH3CN, acetonitrile or ethanenitrile per IUPAC, also known as methyl cyanide. Nitriles do not release cyanide ions. A functional group with a hydroxyl and cyanide on the same carbon is called cyanohydrin, and it is hydrolyzed into hydrogen cyanide and a carbonyl compound (ketone or aldehyde).
