KnowHOW team explains: The common idea that potassium cyanide causes instant death is a huge myth. What actually happens after one consumes the poison is that one becomes unconscious immediately and then dies 10-15 minutes later.

fter entering the body through the mouth potassium cyanide reacts with the water present in body fluids to form hydrocyanic acid. The acid then infiltrates blood capillaries of the sublingual space ? space under the tongue ? as well as the oesophagus and intestine. Once in the blood stream, the chemical prevents the red blood cells from absorbing oxygen. The cells get starved of oxygen, creating a metabolic disorder.

oreover, the chemical forms a heavy compound after reacting with iron or any metal present in the blood, thereby decreasing its fluidity.

hese two factors make one unconscious and one dies soon. Though it does not cause instantaneous death, the mortality due to potassium cyanide poisoning is 95 per cent. If a sulphur antidote is administered in time people can be saved, for the chemical gets neutralised forming sulphocyanite.

owever, people who survive the poisoning are at risk of central nervous system dysfunction, including Parkinson?s disease-like syndromes.

The question was sent by Smarajit Chowdhury from Calcutta-47