A colorless, inflammable, poisonous gas,
C2N2, with a peach-blossom odor, so called from its tendency to form
blue compounds; obtained by heating ammonium oxalate, mercuric cyanide, etc. 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. The name is also applied to the univalent radical,
CN (the half molecule of cyanogen proper), which was one of the first compound radicals recognized.
(Chem.)