Arsenic definition
A highly poisonous metallic element having several allotropic forms of which the brittle, crystalline gray metallic form is the most common. The less stable yellow allotrope has a molecular structure, As4 . Arsenic and its compounds are used in insecticides, weed killers, semiconductor dopants, and various alloys. Atomic number 33; atomic weight 74.9216; valence 3, 5. Gray arsenic melts at 817°C (at 28 atm pressure), sublimes at 616°C, and has a specific gravity of 5.75.
noun
Arsenic trioxide.
noun
Of or containing arsenic, especially with valence 5.
adjective
A silvery-white, brittle, very poisonous chemical element, compounds of which are used in making insecticides, glass, medicines, semiconductors, etc.: symbol, As; at. no. 33
noun
(loosely) Arsenic trioxide, As2O3, a poisonous compound of arsenic used to exterminate insects and rodents: it is a white powder and has no taste.
noun
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Of or containing arsenic, esp. pentavalent arsenic.
adjective
A metalloid element most commonly occurring as a gray crystal, but also found as a yellow crystal and in other forms. Arsenic and its compounds are highly poisonous and are used to make insecticides, weed killers, and various alloys. Atomic number 33; atomic weight 74.922; valence 3, 5. Gray arsenic melts at 817°C (at 28 atm pressure), sublimes at 613°C, and has a specific gravity of 5.73.
Arsenic trioxide.
noun
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Origin of arsenic
- Middle English arsenik from Old French from Latin arsenicum from Greek arsenikon yellow orpiment alteration of Syriac zarnīkā from Middle Persian zarnīk from Old Iranian zarna- golden ghel-2 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Middle English arsenik, from Middle French arsenic, from Latin arsenicum, from Ancient Greek ἀρσενικόν (arsenikon, “yellow arsenic”) (influenced by ἀρσενικός (arsenikos, “potent, virile”)), from Semitic (compare Classical Syriac ܙܪܢܝܟܐ (zarnīḵā), Aramaic (zarnīḵā)), from Middle Iranian *zarnīk (compare Persian زرنی (zarnī, “arsenic”)), from Old Iranian *zarniya-ka- (compare Avestan (zaraniia-, “golden”), Old Persian (daraniya-, “gold”), Sanskrit हिरण्य (híraṇya, “gold”), Persian زر (zar, “gold”)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃i. More at yellow.
From Wiktionary