25.01.2015 Views

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>Chemical</strong> <strong>Agents</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Opportunity</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Terrorism</strong><br />

Training Support Package<br />

Participant Guide<br />

Slide 5<br />

<strong>Chemical</strong> <strong>Agents</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Opportunity</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Terrorism</strong>:<br />

<strong>TICs</strong> & <strong>TIMs</strong><br />

Cyanide (CN): Properties<br />

• Small molecule (26 Dalton)<br />

• Boiling Point 27.7 °C<br />

• Colorless<br />

• Bitter Almonds Myth<br />

• Water soluble<br />

Module Four – Cyanide & Fumigants<br />

5<br />

Cyanide is commonly encountered in one <strong>of</strong> two <strong>for</strong>ms: as a solid salt (sodium cyanide,<br />

potassium cyanide) or as a gas (hydrogen cyanide). While solid cyanide salts are usually<br />

white, in aqueous solution (ie. water soluble) or as a gas, cyanide is colorless. Its<br />

relatively low boiling point means that it would exist as a gas at room temperature unless<br />

kept in solution. Cyanide remains in aqueous solution at an alkaline (basic) pH.<br />

Hydrogen cyanide gas cannot be easily detected by its odor. The scent <strong>of</strong> bitter almonds<br />

is faint and many exposed people (who live to tell about it) do not report having smelled<br />

anything.<br />

December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 192

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!