The Chemistry of King Cobra Venom


The king cobra is one the deadliest snakes in the world. Its venom can kill an elephant in just a few hours.The venom also kills 50-60% of untreated cases against humans.  I chose this topic because I have a slight fascination for snakes and I think they’re are just really awesome creatures.

Composition of ...

King Cobra venom is made primarily of neurotoxins and proteins. These toxins ,once they enter the body, start to shut down the central nervous system and start to cause blurred vision, vertigo, drowsiness, and paralysis. The toxins could cause the victim to go into a coma.

Main Chemicals, Compounds, Components

Neurotoxins and Ohanin

Composition of Neurotoxins: Toxins that target the nervous system and shut the body down.

Composition of Ohanin: Consists of 107 amino acids

Chemistry's Role

King cobra venom is actually very important to society because it helps us to better understand the toxins that could be used in warfare or in cures for other snake bites. There has also been a discovery of a really high end painkiller made from the venom of a king cobra. A man was bitten by a cobra and even morphine ,which is one of the highest painkillers, could not cure his symptoms so they use a new painkiller made from cobra venom and it almost instantly cured him.