cyanohydrin
LowTechnical/Specialist
Definition
Meaning
A chemical compound formed by the addition of hydrogen cyanide to a carbonyl group (like a ketone or aldehyde).
A functional group or organic compound containing a carbon atom bound to both a cyanide group (–C≡N) and a hydroxyl group (–OH), typically produced as an intermediate in organic synthesis.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is exclusively used in chemistry, specifically in organic chemistry. It names both a functional group and a class of compounds. These compounds are often key intermediates in the synthesis of amino acids, hydroxy acids, and pharmaceuticals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling, pronunciation, or usage differences exist; both communities use the term identically in technical contexts.
Connotations
None beyond its precise chemical meaning.
Frequency
Equally low frequency and used only in academic, industrial, and research chemistry contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
formation of [compound] cyanohydrinsynthesis of [compound] cyanohydrin[compound] is converted to its cyanohydrinVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Potentially used in pharmaceutical R&D or chemical manufacturing reports; otherwise absent.
Academic
Used in organic chemistry textbooks, research papers, and lectures on nucleophilic addition reactions.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
The primary context; used in laboratory protocols, chemical safety data sheets, and synthetic chemistry discussions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The cyanohydrin product was isolated by distillation.
American English
- The cyanohydrin derivative showed greater stability.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The chemist explained that a cyanohydrin has both an OH and a CN group on the same carbon.
- Acetone cyanohydrin is an important industrial chemical.
- The asymmetric synthesis of the cyanohydrin was achieved using a chiral catalyst.
- Upon hydrolysis, the cyanohydrin intermediate yielded the corresponding α-hydroxy acid.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cyano-bird (C≡N) and a hydra with a drink (hydroxy, –OH) both landing on the same carbonyl carbon atom.
Conceptual Metaphor
A 'bridge' or 'intermediate station' molecule that can be converted into two different, more complex molecules (like an amino acid or a carboxylic acid).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'cyan-' with 'cyanide' in a purely toxicological sense; here it's a functional group.
- The '-hydrin' suffix relates to hydrogen and the hydroxyl group, not directly to 'water' (вода) or 'hydration' in the common sense.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'cyanhydrin' or 'cyannohydrin'.
- Incorrectly pronouncing the 'hydro-' segment as /haɪdroʊ/ instead of /ˈhaɪdrɪn/.
- Using it as a general term for any cyanide-containing compound.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core structural feature of a cyanohydrin?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Many cyanohydrins can release hydrogen cyanide under certain conditions (e.g., in acidic environments) and must be handled with appropriate safety precautions in a laboratory.
They are primarily used as intermediates in organic synthesis, for example, in the production of α-hydroxy acids, amino acids like serine, and certain pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
No, it is a highly specialized term from organic chemistry and is not part of general vocabulary. You will only encounter it in technical contexts.
A nitrile contains only the –C≡N group. A cyanohydrin is a specific type of molecule that contains both a nitrile group and a hydroxyl group on the same carbon atom.