Australian Science Illustrated – Issue 51 2017

50 | SCIENCE ILLUSTRATED

POTASSIUM CYANIDE

STIFLES CELLS

KILLINGS

Which Poison is the Fastest

and Most Discreet Killer?

I

n the series, the wedding between Joffrey

and Margaery Tyrell ends fatally for the

groom, after he drinks a poisoned glass of

wine. In a few minutes, Joffrey

suffers tremendous cramps,

vomits blood, and finally dies.

There really are toxic

substances that can kill a man very quickly.

Potassium cyanide consumption prevents

body cells from absorbing oxygen, resulting

in rapid death just like Joffrey’s. The

quantity required varies, but generally, only

2-300 mg of potassium cyanide salts are

sufficient to kill an adult.

POISON CAUSES SPASMS AND HAIR LOSS

QUICK DISCREET

HIDDEN

Arsenic No. Dead after

12-18 hours. No.a few minutes. Vomiting after No. Poison accumula-

Botulinum tes in hair and nails.

toxin 3-5 days.No. Dead after Yes. Late visual and

speech problems. is pink.No. The victim's skin

Strychnine Yes. Dead after

a few minutes. No. the victim to suffer Cramps cause

grotesque spasms.

No. Poison is

revealed in blood.

Polonium No. Dead after

2-3 months. one week.Yes. Hair loss after No. But disclosure

requires sophisti-

Ricin No. cated equipment.

Dead after

2-3 days. Yes.like those of Symptoms

other diseases.

Yes. Poison is

absorbed by or bro-

Potassium ken down in the body.

cyanide

Yes. Dead after a

few minutes. like cardiac arrestYes. Symptoms No. The dead per-

son's skin is pink.

2 The mitochondria absorb oxygen of the cytochrome a3 oxidase respiration by means

enzyme. Potassium cyanide binds to ions in the

enzyme, so the mitochondria cannot absorb

oxygen nor produce the ATP energy molecule.

3 Without energy,body processes such vital

as heartbeats and nerve

signals no longer function,

and the person will soon die.

1 Body cellsfunction as a type of power station in the include mitochondria, which

body, producing the ATP energy molecule. This

happens by the cell using oxygen from the air to

burn sugar from the food.

The extremely toxic potassium cyanide prevents

cells from absorbing oxygen and producing energy.

ENZYME

POTASSIUM CYANIDE

MITOCHONDRIUM

FOOD

OXYGEN

CELL

ATP

C0 2

CLAUS LUNAU

The evil King Joffrey

dies in a matter of

a few minutes.

H^

20

A powerful poison such as potassium cyanide shuts down the

body's cells, killing the victim in a few minutes.

HBO NORDIC

GUIDE GAME OF THRONES