nitroprusside
/ˌnʌɪtrə(ʊ)ˈprʌsʌɪd/Chemistry
noun
A salt containing the complex anion [Fe(CN)5NO]2−, obtained by treating a ferro or ferricyanide with nitric acid; especially such a salt (frequently sodium nitroprusside) used as a reagent in various analytical tests and as an emergency hypotensive agent.
- Nitroprussides contain the nitrosyl group, not the nitro group, and may be given more systematic names such as pentacyanonitrosylferrate..
Origin
Mid 19th century. From nitro- + pruss- + -ide.