Zyklon B was originally ‘Cyclone B’.
While the ‘B’ distinguished the product from Zyklon A, it was also the first letter of the German name for the substance.
This German name translate to English as Prussic acid
Prussic acid, also known as hydrogen cyanide or hydrocyanic acid (HCN), is a highly toxic, volatile liquid that is a potent poison
While Zyklon B became notorious during World War II, France in 1916 and Italy and the United States in 1918 also used it during World War I.
At the Nazi concentration camp in Majdanek, Poland, camp officials used Zyklon B in two buildings: barracks 41 and 42.
In barrack 41, they killed the prisoners.
Used for Disinfecting clothing in barrack 42, which was Zyklon B’s original purpose.
The primary constituent of Zyklon B is deadly because it inhibits the action of an enzyme called Cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria and chokes cells.
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