Syanidia

Syanidia is a term that appears in speculative fiction and some game settings to denote a fictional class of substances with cyanide-like properties. It is not a recognized chemical or biological term in real-world science. The name blends the root cyan- with the suffix -idia commonly used in fictional naming.

In fictional contexts, syanidia may refer to a toxin, a crystalline mineral, or an energy-rich compound. Depictions vary widely: some portray it as a volatile liquid that releases toxic gas upon heating; others describe a stable solid that interferes with cellular processes in organisms, producing rapid incapacitation. In role-playing games, syanidia-derived materials might be used as battery-like fuels or as a hazardous resource with specialized handling requirements.

Because there is no standard definition or canonical properties, the portrayal of syanidia depends entirely on the source. Writers often use it as a plot device to evoke danger or to stand in for real-world cyanide-like hazards without naming real substances. Safety and handling details, if provided, are fictional and should not be applied to real materials.

See also: cyanide, toxicology in fiction, fictional chemistry, sci-fi minerals.