Definition

A chemical compound that is a salt or ester derived from cyanic acid, often used in various chemical processes.

Example

Ammonium cyanate is commonly used in organic synthesis.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of cyanate?

No, I haven't. What is it?

It's actually a salt of cyanic acid, quite interesting in chemistry.

That sounds cool! I should look it up.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cyanate is formed from "cyano-" (from Greek "kyanos", meaning dark blue) and "-ate" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote a salt or ester of an acid). The word refers to a chemical compound containing the cyanate ion, which is associated with a blue color due to the presence of cyanide.

Memory Tip

Think of 'cyano-' meaning dark blue, which helps you remember that cyanate is related to a chemical compound that often has a blue association.

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