Iven Lim (17)

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is a harmful compound formed by hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen of one atom each. The type of chemical bonding involved is covalent bonding. Hydrogen (H) has only 1 electron. It is the fuel that powers the Sun and other stars. Carbon (C) has 6 electrons. All life on earth is made from it. It has three allotropes which are graphite, diamond and amorphous carbon. Nitrogen (N) has 7 electrons. It makes up about 78% of the air and is used to prevent things from reacting with the oxygen in the air. When the three elements are put together, they react so that hydrogen forms a bond with carbon and carbon forms three bonds with nitrogen. Hence the valence shells of all the constituent elements will be fully-filled and hydrogen cyanide will be formed.