isocyanide

American

[ahy-suh-sahy-uh-nahyd, -nid] / ˌaɪ səˈsaɪ əˌnaɪd, -nɪd /

noun

Chemistry.

a compound containing an isocyano group.

isocyanide British

/ ˌaɪsəʊˈsaɪəˌnaɪd /

noun

Also called: carbylamine. isonitrile. any salt or ester of isocyanic acid

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of isocyanide

First recorded in 1875–80; iso- + cyanide

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The researchers note that having hydrogen isocyanide on the crystal surface increases the likelihood that even more complex prebiotic molecules could form there.

From Science Daily

By analyzing the chemical behavior of the crystal surfaces, the researchers identified two reaction pathways that could transform hydrogen cyanide into hydrogen isocyanide, a more reactive compound.

From Science Daily

If heated with solution of potassium hydroxide, odour of aniline is given off; if liquid, when it is warmed with a few drops of chloroform, a penetrating and unpleasant odour of isocyanide.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023