
Shofar FTP Archive File: camps/auschwitz/cyanide/merck-index
Here's what the 10th edition (1983) of the Merck Index had
to say on Hydrogen Cyanide. Notice that there is no
mention of the gas being explosive:
HYDROGEN CYANIDE: Hydrocyanic acid, Blauseare, prussic acid.
[preparation info deleted] Colorless gas or liquid;
characteristic odor; very weakly acidic; burns in air with a
blue flame. INTENSELY POISONOUS EVEN MIXED WITH AIR.
Gas density: 0.941 (air = 1)
Liquid density: 0.687 [g/cm^3, I assume]
melting point: -13.4 deg Celsius
Boiling Point: 25.6 deg Celsius
The LC50 (lethal dose for 50% of animals) in rats -- 544
ppm (5min), mice 169 ppm (30 min), dogs 300 ppm (3 min).
HUMAN TOXICITY: [..] exposure to 150 ppm for 1/2 to 1 hour
may endanger life. Death may result from a few min. exposure
to 300 ppm. Average fatal dose: 50 to 60 milligrams.
USE: The compressed gas is used for exterminating rodents
and insects in ships and for killing insects on trees, etc.
MUST BE HANDLED BY SPECIALLY TRAINED EXPERTS.
© The Nizkor Project, 1991-2008