The Chemistry of Cyanide Poisoning and Why it Kills

Murder mysteries and spy novels often feature cyanide as a fast-acting poison, but you can be exposed to this toxin from everyday chemicals and even common foods. Have you ever wondered how cyanide poisons and kills people, how much it takes before its toxic and whether there is a cure? Heres what you need to know. What Is Cyanide? The term cyanide refers to any chemical containing a carbon-nitrogen (CN) bond. Many substances contain cyanide, but not all of them are deadly poisons. Sodium cyanide (NaCN), potassium cyanide (KCN), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and cyanogen chloride (CNCl) are lethal, but thousands of compounds called nitriles contain the cyanide group yet arent as toxic. In fact, you can find cyanide in nitriles used as pharmaceuticals, such as  citalopram (Celexa) and  cimetidine (Tagamet). Nitriles arent as dangerous because they dont readily release the CN- ion, which is the group that acts as a metabolic poison. How Cyanide Poisons In a nutshell, cyanide prevents cells from using oxygen to make energy molecules. The cyanide ion, CN-, binds to the iron atom in cytochrome C oxidase in the mitochondria of cells. It acts as an irreversible enzyme inhibitor, preventing cytochrome C oxidase from doing its job, which is to transport electrons to oxygen in the electron transport chain of aerobic cellular respiration. Without the ability to use oxygen, mitochondria cant produce the energy carrier adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Tissues that require this form of energy, such as heart muscle cells and nerve cells, quickly expend all their energy and start to die. When a large enough number of critical cells die, you die. Exposure to Cyanide Cyanide can be used as a poison or chemical warfare agent, but most people are exposed to it unintentionally. Some ways to be exposed to cyanide include: Eating  cassava, lima beans, yucca, bamboo shoots, sorghum,  or almondsEating apple seeds, cherry stones, apricot pits, or peach pitsSmoking cigarettesBurning plasticBurning coalInhaling smoke from a house fireIngesting  acetonitrile-based products are used to remove artificial nailsDrinking water, eating food, touching soil, or inhaling air that has been contaminatedExposure to rodenticide or other cyanide-containing pesticides Cyanide in fruits and vegetables is in the form of cyanogenic glycosides (cyanoglycosides). Sugars attach to these compounds through the process of glycosylation, forming free hydrogen cyanide. Many industrial processes involve compounds that contain cyanide or can react with water or air to produce it. Paper, textile, photochemical, plastics, mining, and metallurgy industries all may deal with cyanide. Some people report an odor of bitter almonds associated with cyanide, but not all toxic compounds produce the scent and not all people can smell it. Cyanide gas is less dense than air, so it will rise. Symptoms of Cyanide Poisoning Inhaling a high dose of cyanide gas rapidly causes unconsciousness and often death. Lower doses may be survivable, especially if immediate aid is provided. The symptoms of cyanide poisoning are similar to those displayed by other conditions or exposure to any of a number of chemicals, so dont assume cyanide is the cause. In any event, do remove yourself from the cause of exposure and seek immediate medical attention. Immediate Symptoms HeadacheDizzinessWeaknessConfusionFatigueLack of coordination Symptoms From Larger Doses or Longer Exposure Low blood pressureUnconsciousnessConvulsionsSlow heart rateLung damageRespiratory failureComa Death from poisoning usually results from respiratory or heart failure. A person exposed to cyanide may have cherry-red skin from high oxygen levels or dark or blue coloring, from Prussian blue (iron-binding to the cyanide ion). Also, skin and body fluids may give off an odor of almonds. How Much Cyanide Is Lethal? How much cyanide is too much depends on the route of exposure, the dose, and duration of exposure? Inhaled cyanide presents a greater risk than ingested cyanide. Skin contact is not as much of a concern (unless the cyanide has been mixed with DMSO), except touching the compound could lead to accidentally swallowing some of it. As a rough estimate, since lethal dose depends on the exact compound and several other factors, about half a gram of ingested cyanide will kill a 160-pound  adult. Unconsciousness, followed by death, could occur within several seconds of inhaling a high dose of cyanide, but lower doses and ingested cyanide may allow a few hours to a couple of days for treatment. Emergency medical attention is critical. Is there a Treatment for Cyanide Poisoning? Because its a relatively common toxin in the environment, the body can detoxify a small amount of cyanide. For example, you can eat the seeds of an apple or withstand cyanide from cigarette smoke without dying. When cyanide is used as a poison or a chemical weapon, treatment depends on the dose. A high dose of inhaled cyanide is lethal too quickly for any treatment to take effect. Initial first aid for inhaled cyanide requires getting the victim to fresh air. Ingested cyanide or lower doses of inhaled cyanide may be countered by administering antidotes that detoxify cyanide or bind to it. For example, natural vitamin B12,  hydroxocobalamin, reacts with cyanide to form  cyanocobalamin, which is excreted in urine. Inhalation of amyl nitrite may aid breathing in victims of cyanide and also carbon monoxide poisoning, although few first aid kits contain these ampules anymore. Depending on the conditions, complete recovery may be possible, although paralysis, liver damage, kidney damage, and hypothyroidism are possible.

Oskar Schindler s Influence On His Life - 1274 Words

His accomplishments have benefited those throughout his life. Although his kindness for his fellow man ran deep, so did his greed for boosting his own personal status within the community. There are still those today that believe that Oskar Schindler only saved the Jews for his own personal gain, but there are also those that believe that he did it out of kindness. Whether he did it out of good morale or simply for his own greed, Oskar Schindler accomplished many things within his life, such as saving the Jews, helping the economy, and being a German spy. During his younger years, Schindler grew up within a rich lifestyle, leading to him being a very greedy and power hungry man. He never missed an opportunity to gain a profit, so he followed the path of the SS in Poland. This path led him to the black markets and the underworld of Poland, which is where he befriended the SS. This friendship led to his ownership of his own factory. Also around the time of the extermination of the Jews, Schindler began to falter in his cynical ways of thinking once he saw the full cruelty of the Nazi s. For he once stated If you saw a dog going to be crushed under a car, wouldn t you help him?† (Susan Pottinger, Schindler s Biography). So with a change of heart, his factory became the gateway to saving the lives of thousands of people of the Jewish nature. His accountant, being Jewish himself, began to use this to his advantage and began to guide Schindler into hiring more Jewish workers,Show MoreRelated Oskar Schindlers Actions During the Holocau st Essay examples1534 Words   |  7 PagesOskar Schindlers Actions During the Holocaust The Holocaust usually refers to Nazi Germanys systematic genocide of various peoples during the Second World War, the main target of this designed massacre being the Jews. Approximately 6 million Jews became the victims of this fanatical racism, slaughter, and cruelty. 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Ben Franklin And William Bradford Essay Example For Students

Ben Franklin And William Bradford Essay Although William Bradford and Ben Franklin lived 100 years apart from one another, they share at least one common theme: each man adhered to and dedicated himself to a particular system of belief. One key difference between Bradfords faith and Franklins ideal of success is that Bradford believed that the way to improvement was through God. Franklin believed that the only person or thing that could make things happen was you. Bradfords point is illustrated in is work Of Plymouth Plantation. He states, The difficulties were many, but not invincible. For though there are many of them likely, yet they were not certain. It might be sundry of the things feared might never befall; others by provident care and the use of good means might in great measure be prevented; and all of them, through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either be borne or overcome. Bradford 144 In this quote he is talking about the pilgrims first coming to America. He thinks that through God they survive and will prosper. Bradfords puritan belief influenced the way that he survived. His survival depended on the his faith in God. Imagine someone coming to a new world just for the sake of coming. If he didnt have his faith he probably wouldnt have stayed and founded the Plymouth colony. But because of his faith in God, he stayed. Franklin believes that God is to be thanked, but his own hard work with Gods providence made him the way he is. Franklin 370 Franklin believed the only way to improve was to take what God had given to you and work hard using your talents to become successful. He stated in Poor Richard Improved, He that plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive. Franklin 439 This mentions nothing about God, only He or Himself. Whereas all of Bradfords passage about himself mention something about God. Franklins belief system is through hard work and self-improvement. He achieved all he did through his own hard work. Ben Franklin grew up in a upper-class environment and when his father lost his money Franklin had to go to work as a printing person. He made it where he is today because of his hark work and self-improvement. In my view Franklins success system has the greatest strength. I tend to think that Bradfords view is a little unattainable. In my opinion God gave us free will for a reason. This reason was for us to make our own conscience decisions and to look to God for guidance only and not rely on him for every little detail of our lives. We have to work hard and be thankful for Gods providence that we have the opportunities we have. I also think that we have to have a little bit of Bradfords faith. His faith in God gave him strength to overcome insurmountable odds. I think that we should learn from both Franklin and Bradford. God and hard work will make us

Celebrity Advertising free essay sample

Sometimes probably yes. But there are also models used to determine the appropriate celebrity for the job, and that is what my paper is going to be researching. One of the most important variables that seems to influence how persuasive a celebrity will be in any advertising is the appropriateness of the celebrity for endorsing a particular brand and product. This appropriateness may be defined as the natural linkage between personality and product category, regardless of how the celebrity is actually used in the ad (Jones). There are many different models used to determine which celebrity is the best fit for an advertising campaign, such as the source attractiveness model, the source credibility model, the product match hypothesis, the co-activation theory, the cognitive source model (elaboration likelihood model), and the cultural meaning transfer. The next sections of my paper will be discussing these models in greater detail. First of the models want to discuss are some that have been around for quite some time and were the bases of all of the models to follow. This model, the source model, is where marketers will rate celebrities on many different attributes when trying to place them into a commercial and early attempts at understanding the influence of any source in the persuasive context suggested that an attractive, trustworthy, like able, or credible source facilitates the message-learning and acceptance process (Jones). It was believed that you needed to determine in what context you want your advertisement to show and pick a celebrity that would align with this image. .. . Here factors contribute to the effectiveness of message. These are familiarity of an endorser, similarity of an endorser and liking of an endorser. Similarity can be defined as the extent to which the receiver (customer) finds semblance between itself and the source (endorser). Familiarity refers to that how much knowledge the receiver (customer) posses about the source (endorser) And likeability is the affection the receiver (customer) develops towards source (endorser) because of the physical attractiveness of the endorsed (Aimed).That said, it seems as though likeability relies a great deal on how attractive the celebrity is; I would say that familiarity related to trustworthiness, in that when you know someone well or have knowledge about them, then you are more likely to trust that said person. Going beyond just physical appearance for how you perceive someone, you also may view someone as credible. This person does not necessarily need to be a celebrity, but maybe someone who is well known for this certain area of expertise, or perhaps as long as the advertisement states the persons credentials, you are more apt to believing what the person is selling to you.Being credible holds that the effectiveness of a message is based on the perceived level of expertise and trustworthiness the customers have in an endorser Expertise can be defined as the extent to which the endorser communicator) is perceived to be knowledgeable, skillful and experienced (Aimed). I believe that attractiveness identifies more with peripheral cues, while credibility aligns more with central processing cues.When someone is viewed as attractive, you may be more interested in the advertisement just due to your sense of sight and emotional cues, whereas when someone is credible, you are more cognitive in your analyzing and begin to think about the products attributes the communicator is telling you more so than just wanting to purchase the product because of the looks of that person. These re brought up again later when talking about the cognitive response model. The next model is the Product Match-Up Hypothesis [which] states that there should be perfect match between the celebrity personality characteristics and brand attributes (Aimed).This model seems to be the most widely used of all of the models, as I found the most information and articles about it. This theory was born out of the observation that using an attractive model is not universally effective for all products. They tend to work better for products that are beauty related (Nag). The article goes on to tell s that this theory is used for other things besides beauty products as well, but many of the characteristics result the attractiveness-rating of a celebrity matched with a product that is either thought to be an attractive or unattractive product. The product celebrity match-up doesnt solely rely on just ordinary congruency but on the physical attractiveness of the celebrity as well. Attractive celebrities are more persuasive specially when endorsing the products that enhance the prettiness (Aimed). One article tell us that this hypothesis is related to the balance theory in that, when the celebrity image r attributes do not coincide with the known attributes of the brand, product, or service, incongruence results. This incongruence produces tension and generates forces in the reader or viewer to restore balance (Jones).You need to find the correct celebrity to be able to create an attitude using the celebrity in the consumer that is consistent with their perceived attitude about the brand. Namely, the message conveyed by the image of the celebrity and the message about the product ought to converge in effective ads [it] is important because it allows for meaningful processing and makes it more Seibel for the brand name to be effectively linked and associated with the celebrity/ (Jones). There have been some critiques to this model, however, brought up by Lawrence Nag.First of all, some celebrities fit in some categories, but do worse on others (I. E. Trustworthiness or likeability) and there are many celebrities to choose from, so it is hard to pinpoint the exact right one for the ad at hand. Second, if you are trying to reposition a brand, you would not be able to use this theory because a certain level of incongruity is necessary in order to change the perception (Nag). Along with that, the theory must also explain the phenomenon of reverse transfer. This means that the endorsed product can also influence the perception of the celebrity.A celebrity can lose his cache very quickly if he/she were to endorse a negative product (Nag). It is also shown that this hypothesis does not explain what exactly fir means; it is more of a generic term according to this hypothesis, where as other theories go into detail as what fit actually means to them. Finally, this model does not explain any asymmetric effects. For instance, if an attractive celebrity (e. G. Tom Sellers) is juxtaposed with an attractive product (e. G. , luxury car), an image enhancement is seen for this attractive product more so than for an unattractive product (e. . , typewriter). However, for an unattractive celebrity (e. G. , Tell Cassavas) he/she does not in any way influence the unattractive product (e. G. , typewriter) even though he/she matches this product better (Nag). In other words, attractive celebrities work well with attractive products, but it is harder to find a match for an unattractive product as attractive celebrities are not a match for these products, and unattractive liberties still have no positive effect on these sorts of products.From these inconsistencies, other theories are found as to why this hypothesis still works and is still widely used. First is the social adaptation theory. This theory states that a person will continue to process an ad until no new information is added; therefore it is the acquisition of new information that helps us adapt to our environment. Thus, an attractive celebrity is more effective for endorsing a beauty-related product because an attractive celebrity can add more information about the product than an interactive celebrity (Nag).