Cyanogen halide

A cyanogen halide is a molecule consisting of cyanide and a halogen. Cyanogen halides are chemically classified as pseudohalogens.

The cyanogen halides are a group of chemically reactive compounds which contain a cyano group (-CN) attached to a halogen element, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. Cyanogen halides are colorless, volatile, lacrimatory (tear-producing) and highly poisonous compounds.2 Cyanogen fluoride is a gas produced by heating cyanuric fluoride. Cyanogen chloride is a liquid produced by reacting chlorine with hydrocyanic acid. It has been suggested that cyanogen chloride be used by the military as poison gas. Cyanogen bromide is a solid that is prepared by reacting bromine with hydrocyanic acid salts; it has been used as a chemical pesticide against insects and rodents and as a reagent for the study of protein structure. Cyanogen halides have been found to act as electrolytes in liquid solvents, sulfur dioxide, arsenious chloride, and sulfuryl chloride.