1. Combining form of Gr. κύανος and κυάνεος ‘dark-blue’ before a vowel: see following words, and CYANO-, also CYAN-BLUE.
2. Chem. = CYANO- 2, used as combining form of CYANOGEN before a vowel, and in names of cyanogen compounds and derivatives, as in CYANATE, CYANIC, CYANIDE, etc. Also Cyanamide, the amide of cyanogen CN2 H2, a white crystalline body. Cyanhydric a. = hydrocyanic. Cyanuramide, an organic base polymeric with cyanamide; also called melamine. Cyanurate, a salt of Cyanuric [URIC], or Cyanurenic acid, an acid polymeric with cyanic acid, obtained by heating dry urea in a flask; it is inodorous and not poisonous. Cyanylic [-YL] acid, an acid isomeric with cyanuric acid; a salt of this is a Cyanylate. Also cyanacetate, cyanethine, etc.
1838. T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 208. Cyanuric acid. This acid … has been described in the Chemistry of Inorganic Bodies (vol. ii. p. 227), under the name of cyanic acid. Ibid., 211. Cyanilic acid … was discovered by M. Liebig in 1833. Ibid., 781. If we sprinkle ammonia on crystallized chloride of cyanogen, and heat gently, it loses its crystalline aspect, and is reduced to a white powder…. This substance is cyanamide.
1869. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 369. Obtained synthetically by the action of potash upon ethyl cyanacetate.
1877. Watts, Fownes’ Chem., II. 97. Cyanuric acid is changed by a very high temperature into cyanic acid.
