Does cyanide actually smell like almonds?
TLDRIn this intriguing video, the host explores the common myth that cyanide smells like almonds. Starting with a disclaimer about the dangers of cyanide and the importance of not attempting to recreate the experiment, the host shares their curiosity about the supposed pleasant aroma of a deadly substance. After acquiring sodium cyanide, the host explains the process of converting it into hydrogen cyanide gas, which is the form that can be detected by smell. Through a series of careful experiments involving diluting the cyanide, measuring its concentration, and using a cyanide meter, the host aims to safely smell the gas. They find that hydrogen cyanide has a distinct chemical odor, reminiscent of bleach or chlorinated water, but not almonds. To compare, the host also smells both sweet and bitter almonds, noting that the latter contains cyanide and has a faint, generic plant-like smell with a hint of cherry due to benzaldehyde. The video concludes that while it's technically correct to say cyanide smells like bitter almonds, it's misleading as most people are not familiar with the smell of bitter almonds. The host also highlights the importance of safety and the limitations of human senses in detecting toxic substances.
Takeaways
- 📦 The video is sponsored by Raycon and the content involves handling cyanide, which should not be attempted by viewers at home.
- 🍂 Cyanide is often described as smelling like almonds, a notion the video aims to investigate.
- 🛒 The host ordered a kilogram of sodium cyanide, which is a common form of cyanide, despite not having a use for such a large quantity.
- 🧂 Sodium cyanide in solid form does not have an odor, unlike hydrogen cyanide gas, which is detectable in low concentrations.
- 🔬 Hydrogen cyanide gas is extremely toxic and can be fatal with just a few breaths at high concentrations.
- 🏥 The host used a cyanide meter to safely detect and measure the concentration of hydrogen cyanide gas produced from sodium cyanide.
- 🍯 Regular, sweet almonds were found to have little to no smell, which does not match the odor of cyanide.
- 🌿 Bitter almonds, which contain cyanide, were more difficult to obtain and were expected to have a smell closer to cyanide.
- 🧪 The experiment showed that bitter almonds, when crushed and mixed with water, released a smell similar to cyanide with a hint of cherry.
- 🤔 It was concluded that while cyanide can smell like bitter almonds, this description might be misleading as most people are not familiar with the smell of bitter almonds.
- 👃 Some individuals may not be able to detect the smell of cyanide at all, even at toxic levels, which could make the 'almond smell' description dangerous.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is the exploration of the claim that cyanide smells like almonds and the experiment conducted to verify this.
Why did the video creator decide to order a full kilo of sodium cyanide instead of just a few grams?
-The video creator found that small quantities of cyanide were overpriced, and for some reason, rationalized that buying a full kilo was a smarter decision, despite not knowing how to use a fraction of it.
What is the common form of cyanide used in the video?
-The common form of cyanide used in the video is sodium cyanide.
What is the lethal dosage for an average adult of sodium cyanide?
-For the average adult, a few hundred milligrams of sodium cyanide is needed to be lethal.
Why did the video creator initially fail to smell the cyanide?
-The video creator initially failed to smell the cyanide because sodium cyanide is a solid and does not release enough vapor to be detected.
What gas is formed when sodium cyanide is exposed to water?
-When sodium cyanide is exposed to water, it slowly hydrolyzes and turns into hydrogen cyanide gas.
What is the concentration of hydrogen cyanide in the air that can be fatal after a few breaths?
-Hydrogen cyanide can be fatal after a few breaths at concentrations that are extremely low, but it is not specified in the script.
What is the smell of hydrogen cyanide described as by the video creator?
-The video creator describes the smell of hydrogen cyanide as a chemical smell, similar to weak bleach or chlorine, and a bit like an indoor pool with too much chlorine.
What is the difference between sweet and bitter almonds in terms of cyanide content?
-Bitter almonds contain a decent amount of cyanide and are harder to find compared to sweet almonds, which do not have a significant cyanide content.
What is the compound found in bitter almonds that gives off an almond or cherry smell?
-The compound found in bitter almonds that gives off an almond or cherry smell is benzaldehyde.
What is the conclusion of the video creator about the claim that cyanide smells like bitter almonds?
-The video creator concludes that while it is technically accurate to say that cyanide smells like bitter almonds, it is misleading because most people are not familiar with the smell of bitter almonds and expect a sweet smell like regular almonds.
What is the recommendation for the earbuds mentioned in the video?
-The video creator recommends the Raycon earbuds for their good fit, sound quality, noise isolation, and affordability, and provides a special link for a discount.
Outlines
🧪 The Quest to Smell Cyanide
The video begins with a sponsorship mention and a disclaimer against recreating the experiment due to the use of cyanide. The narrator expresses curiosity about the common claim that cyanide smells like almonds, which is paradoxical as toxic substances typically have unpleasant odors. To verify this, the narrator orders a large quantity of sodium cyanide, noting its unassuming appearance and the fact that it's not as lethal as believed in small doses. The goal is to create and smell hydrogen cyanide gas, which is more dangerous due to its rapid effects when inhaled.
🍂 Bitter Almonds and Cyanide
The narrator discusses the process of generating hydrogen cyanide gas from sodium cyanide by adding water and monitoring the concentration with a cyanide meter. The initial attempt to smell the gas does not yield an almond-like odor; instead, it smells like chemicals, specifically weak bleach or chlorine. The narrator then compares this to the smell of actual almonds, which are found to be nearly odorless even when crushed or made into a milk-like substance. It is revealed that the 'almond smell' associated with cyanide actually refers to bitter almonds, which are harder to find and contain cyanide.
🛒 Bitter Almonds: A Surprising Find
The narrator describes finding bitter almonds on Amazon and the ethical dilemma of supporting a market that includes questionable uses like alternative cancer treatments. Upon receiving the bitter almonds, the narrator notes their lack of odor and attempts to taste one, finding it extremely bitter and unpleasant. The taste does not remind the narrator of cyanide. The bitter almonds are then smashed and tested with water, which releases a faint smell that could be associated with almonds due to benzaldehyde, a compound used as an artificial flavoring. However, the smell is still not similar to the pure cyanide experienced earlier.
📈 Experimenting with Cyanide and Almonds
The narrator conducts further experiments by smashing a single bitter almond and adding water, which results in a detectable level of hydrogen cyanide. The smell is still identified as cyanide with a slight cherry hint from benzaldehyde but not resembling almonds. The video argues that saying cyanide smells like bitter almonds is technically correct but misleading, as most people are not familiar with the smell of bitter almonds. The narrator also shares that some people cannot detect the smell of cyanide at all, even at toxic levels. The experiment concludes with opinions from the narrator's brother and a friend, who also do not associate the smell with almonds.
🎧 Endorsing Raycon Earbuds
The video concludes with a product endorsement for Raycon's E25 earbuds, which the narrator has been using regularly. The earbuds are praised for their fit, ease of pairing, good bass, noise isolation, and affordability. The narrator recommends Raycon and provides a special link for a discount. The video ends with thanks to patrons and supporters on Patreon, mentioning the benefits of early access to videos and the ability to view previously removed content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Cyanide
💡Sodium Cyanide
💡Hydrogen Cyanide
💡Benzaldehyde
💡Amygdalin
💡Bitter Almonds
💡Sweet Almonds
💡Cyanide Meter
💡Hydrolyzes
💡Parts Per Million (ppm)
💡Raycon
Highlights
The video explores the common myth that cyanide smells like almonds, a claim often made in movies and by chemists.
The host decided to test the claim by ordering and smelling cyanide, specifically sodium cyanide, which is a common form of the poison.
Sodium cyanide was found to be surprisingly harmless in small quantities, requiring a few hundred milligrams to be lethal to an average adult.
The experiment involved converting sodium cyanide into hydrogen cyanide, a gas that can be detected in extremely low concentrations.
Hydrogen cyanide is one of the most dangerous forms of cyanide due to its high toxicity even in small amounts in the air.
The host used a cyanide meter to safely detect and control the concentration of hydrogen cyanide during the experiment.
The smell of hydrogen cyanide was described as chemical-like, similar to weak bleach or chlorine, not resembling almonds.
Almonds, both sweet and bitter, were tested for smell, with the latter being the source of the almond smell associated with cyanide.
Bitter almonds were found to have a faint smell, more akin to a generic plant with a hint of benzaldehyde, which is used as an artificial flavor.
The experiment concluded that while cyanide can technically smell like bitter almonds, the comparison is misleading for most people.
Some individuals may not be able to smell cyanide at all, even at toxic levels.
The video also featured a sponsorship by Raycon for their everyday E25 earbuds, praised for their fit, sound quality, and affordability.
The host appreciated the support from patrons and highlighted the benefits of being a Patreon supporter, such as early access to videos.
A special link was provided for a 15% discount on Raycon products, encouraging viewers to support the channel while getting a deal.
The video served as both an educational piece on the nature of cyanide and a cautionary tale about the dangers of misinformation.
The host expressed interest in conducting more experiments like this one, inviting viewer suggestions for future topics.
The video concluded with a reminder of the importance of safety and accurate information when dealing with hazardous substances like cyanide.
Transcripts
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