Editing Hydrogen cyanide (section)

==Applications==
HCN is the precursor to [[sodium cyanide]] and [[potassium cyanide]], which are used mainly in [[gold]] and [[silver]] mining and for the [[electroplating]] of those metals. Via the intermediacy of [[cyanohydrin]]s, a variety of useful organic compounds are prepared from HCN including the [[monomer]] [[methyl methacrylate]], from [[acetone]], the [[amino acid]] [[methionine]], via the [[Strecker synthesis]], and the chelating agents [[EDTA]] and [[Nitrilotriacetic acid|NTA]]. Via the [[hydrocyanation]] process, HCN is added to [[butadiene]] to give [[adiponitrile]], a precursor to [[Nylon|Nylon-6,6]].<ref name=Ullmann/>

HCN is used globally as a [[fumigant]] against many species of pest insects that infest food production facilities. Both its efficacy and method of application lead to very small amounts of the fumigant being used compared to other toxic substances used for the same purpose.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/3/X5042E/x5042E0k.htm#Fumigation%20of%20large%20structures|title = Manual of fumigation for insect control – Space fumigation at atmospheric pressure (Cont.)|website=Food and Agriculture Organization}}</ref> Using HCN as a fumigant also has less environmental impact, compared to some other fumigants such as [[sulfuryl fluoride]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.mit.edu/2009/prinn-greenhouse-tt0311|title = New greenhouse gas identified|website=News.mit.edu| date=11 March 2009 }}</ref> and [[methyl bromide]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://csl.noaa.gov/assessments/ozone/1994/chapters/chapter10.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://csl.noaa.gov/assessments/ozone/1994/chapters/chapter10.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Chapter 10 : Methyl Bromide|website=Csl.noaa.gov}}</ref>