n. - 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.