Syanaattiryhmä

The term "syanaattiryhmä" translates from Finnish to English as "cyanate group". In chemistry, a cyanate group is a univalent radical with the chemical formula [OCN]⁻. It consists of one oxygen atom, one carbon atom, and one nitrogen atom. The cyanate ion is an isomer of the fulminate ion and the azide ion. The most common cyanate compound is potassium cyanate (KOCN), which is a white crystalline solid soluble in water.

Cyanates are generally considered stable under normal conditions, though they can decompose at high temperatures. They are typically formed by the oxidation of cyanide compounds or by the reaction of urea with oxidizing agents. Cyanate ions can participate in various chemical reactions, including nucleophilic substitutions and additions. They are sometimes used in organic synthesis and in the production of certain polymers and pharmaceuticals. In biological contexts, while not a naturally occurring ion in the same way as many others, it can be formed as a metabolic byproduct. Exposure to high concentrations of cyanate compounds can be toxic.