Context
September 3 on this day in 1941, Nazis first used Zyklon B to kill prisoners at the Auschwitz concentration camp
About Zyklon B:
- Commercial name of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), developed in the 1920s in Germany as a pesticide and rodenticide.
- Produced as blue-colored pellets, turning into a poisonous gas when exposed to air.
- Causes internal asphyxiation by blocking oxygen exchange in red corpuscles.
- Notorious for its use during World War II, but also used by France (1916), Italy, and the U.S. (1918) in World War I.
About Hydrogen Cyanide
- Chemical Formula: HCN (carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen).
- Physical State: Colorless gas with a faint almond-like odor.
- Solubility: Highly soluble in water, forming hydrocyanic acid.
- Flammability: Highly flammable in air
- Sources and Production of Hydrogen Cyanide
- Natural Occurrence: Found in certain plant seeds (e.g., apricots, almonds).
- Industrial Production: Synthesized via the Andrussow process or hydrolysis of cyanide salts.
- Uses of Hydrogen Cyanide
- Chemical Manufacturing: Precursor for compounds in plastics, pharmaceuticals, dyes, and pesticides.
- Fumigation: Used for pest control, exterminating rodents and insects.
- Health Effects and Toxicity
- Toxicity: Highly toxic, interfering with cellular respiration and causing suffocation.
- Symptoms: Includes dizziness, nausea, convulsions, and death.
- Inhibition of Cellular Respiration: Blocks cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria, leading to metabolic asphyxiation.
- Biodegradation: Breaks down via microbial degradation and photochemical reactions.
- Toxicity to Aquatic Life: Harmful to aquatic organisms in high concentrations.
- Detection and Safety Measures
- Detection Methods: Use of gas detectors or chemical test kits.
- Safety Measures: Workers should use protective gear and ensure ventilation.
- First Aid: Immediate attention is crucial, including artificial respiration and antidotes like hydroxocobalamin.
Source:
TH
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution:
1. Gold mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world.
2. Coal-based thermal power plants cause mercury pollution.
3. There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a)Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (b)
