Word: amygdaline
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1950-1959
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...those who know anything at all about organic chemistry, the adjective probably carries some more intricate humor. Amygdalin is a glucoside obtained from almond. On hydrolysis, it yields three appropriate fragments: i) glucose which is the sweetest, life-giving, naturally occurring sugar; 2) benzaldehyde which is the starting material for many artificial perfumes, and 3) hydrocyanic acid which is a sweet, almond-smelling gas but one of the deadliest poisons known...
| 1 |