Lexic.us

Definition of Arsenic

1. Noun. A white powdered poisonous trioxide of arsenic; used in manufacturing glass and as a pesticide (rat poison) and weed killer.

2. Noun. A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms; arsenic and arsenic compounds are used as herbicides and insecticides and various alloys; found in arsenopyrite and orpiment and realgar.

Definition of Arsenic

1. n. One of the elements, a solid substance resembling a metal in its physical properties, but in its chemical relations ranking with the nonmetals. It is of a steel- gray color and brilliant luster, though usually dull from tarnish. It is very brittle, and sublimes at 356° Fahrenheit. It is sometimes found native, but usually combined with silver, cobalt, nickel, iron, antimony, or sulphur. Orpiment and realgar are two of its sulphur compounds, the first of which is the true arsenicum of the ancients. The element and its compounds are active poisons. Specific gravity from 5.7 to 5.9. Atomic weight 75. Symbol As.

2. a. Pertaining to, or derived from, arsenic; -- said of those compounds of arsenic in which this element has its highest equivalence; as, arsenic acid.

Definition of Arsenic

1. Noun. A nonmetallic chemical element (''symbol'' As) with an atomic number of 33. ¹

2. Noun. Arsenic trioxide. ¹

3. Adjective. Of, or containing arsenic with a valence of 5. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Arsenic

1. a metallic element [n -S]

Medical Definition of Arsenic

1. 1. One of the elements, a solid substance resembling a metal in its physical properties, but in its chemical relations ranking with the nonmetals. It is of a steel-gray colour and brilliant luster, though usually dull from tarnish. It is very brittle, and sublimes at 356 deg Fahrenheit. It is sometimes found native, but usually combined with silver, cobalt, nickel, iron, antimony, or sulphur. Orpiment and realgar are two of its sulphur compounds, the first of which is the true arsenticum of the ancients. The element and its compounds are active poisons. Specific gravity from 5.7 to 5.9. Atomic weight. Symbol As. 2. Arsenious oxide or arsenious anhydride; called also arsenious acid, white arsenic, and ratsbane. Pertaining to, or derived from, arsenic; said of those compounds of arsenic in which this element has its highest equivalence; as, arsenic acid. Origin: L. Arsenicum, Gr, yellow orpiment, perh. Fr. Or better Attic masculine, male, on account of its strength, or fr. Per. Zernikh: cf. F. Arsenic. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Literary usage of Arsenic

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1887)
"They divide the methods by which arsenic may enter the body in other form than poison into four groups: (1) the introduction of arsenic into the organism ..."

2. Standard Methods of Chemical Analysis: A Manual of Analytical Methods and by Wilfred Welday Scott (1922)
"The distillate may be tested for arsenic as directed above. Traces of arsenic may be detected by either the Gutzeit or Marsh test for arsenic. ..."

3. The Scientific Monthly by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1917)
"It is quite possible if more virgin soils were analyzed arsenic would be found in many of them, and in some in quantities many times as great as here ..."

4. The Living Age by Making of America Project, Eliakim Littell, Robert S. Littell (1861)
"THE practice of arsenic-eating, which prevails in Styria, was first brought ... It appears that in Lower Austria, which is an arsenic-producing country, ..."

5. Analytical Chemistry by Frederick Pearson Treadwell (1921)
"arsenic, As. At. Wt. 74.96 Sp. Gr. = 5.73 Occurrence. — arsenic is widely distributed in nature, being found in small amounts in almost all sulfides, as, ..."

6. Report of the Annual Meeting (1862)
"On the Proportion of arsenic present in Paper-Hangings. ... In most of the green paper- hangings the arsenic was present in the condition of a rough powder. ..."

7. Cavendish by Christa Jungnickel, Russell McCormmach (1996)
"arsenic, the great German chemist Caspar Neumann wrote, is a "most violent poison to all animals," so that the "utmost caution is necessary in all ..."

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