Word: amygdaline
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Dates: during 1951-1951
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...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...
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