Aspect Potassium Cyanide (KCN) Pentobarbital Chemical class Inorganic salt (cyanide compound) Barbiturate (organic sedative-hypnotic) Primary legitimate uses Industrial chemistry, metallurgy, electroplating, gold mining, laboratory reagent Medical sedation, anesthesia, seizure control, veterinary euthanasia Medical use ❌ No therapeutic medical use ✅ Yes (human & veterinary medicine, controlled) Mechanism of toxicity Blocks cellular respiration by inhibiting cytochrome …
