Understanding Cyanide: A Simple Explanation

Cyanide is a very dangerous poison. If someone swallows or breathes in cyanide, it moves into their body and travels to all of their cells.

When cyanide reaches a cell, it stops the cell from taking in oxygen. Every cell in our body needs oxygen to live.

If a cell cannot take in oxygen, it can't "breathe". Without oxygen, the person can get very sick or even die.

You can find cyanide in some chemicals, like rat poison. Surprisingly, it is also in every apple you eat, but there is so little that it’s not harmful in that case!