ARSENIC

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

arsenic; As; atomic number 33

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("arsenic" is a kind of...):

chemical element; element (any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter)

Holonyms ("arsenic" is a substance of...):

arsenopyrite; mispickel (a silver-white or grey ore of arsenic)

orpiment (a yellow mineral occurring in conjunction with realgar; an ore of arsenic)

realgar (a rare soft orange mineral consisting of arsenic sulphide; an important ore of arsenic)

herbicide; weed killer; weedkiller (a chemical agent that destroys plants or inhibits their growth)

insect powder; insecticide (a chemical used to kill insects)

Derivation:

arsenical (relating to or containing arsenic)

arsenious (relating to compounds in which arsenic is trivalent)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

arsenic; arsenic trioxide; arsenous anhydride; arsenous oxide; ratsbane; white arsenic

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("arsenic" is a kind of...):

trioxide (an oxide containing three atoms of oxygen in the molecule)

Derivation:

arsenical (relating to or containing arsenic)

Credits

Context examples:

Arsenic ion requiring three electrons to return to its elemental state.

(As3+, NCI Thesaurus/CRCH)

Arsenic ion requiring five electrons to return to its elemental state.

(As5+, NCI Thesaurus/CRCH)

The researchers are not the first to explore biological filters using xanthates to remove arsenic from drinking water.

(Watermelon rind a cheap filter for arsenic in groundwater, SciDev.Net)

For most living things, arsenic is a deadly poison, but new research shows that microorganisms are breathing arsenic in a large area of the Pacific Ocean.

(Arsenic-breathing microbes discovered in the tropical Pacific Ocean, National Science Foundation)

In recent decades, exposures to environmental toxic metals such as arsenic, copper, lead, cadmium and mercury, have become a global public health concern.

(Experts warn of cardiovascular risk from heavy metal pollution, University of Cambridge)

Both the low and high doses of arsenic resulted in weight gain.

(Low-level arsenic exposure before birth associated with early puberty and obesity in female mice, NIH)

A metal chelating agent that is used as an antidote in arsenic, gold, lead, mercury and other heavy metal poisoning.

(Dimercaprol, NCI Thesaurus)

A complex mixture of dusts, vapors and gases that contains various known or potential carcinogens, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, nitrosamines, coal tar and coal tar pitch, cadmium, benzene and arsenic compounds.

(Coke Oven Emission, NCI Thesaurus)

Causes include: • Being exposed to toxic substances, such as pesticides, arsenic, and benzene • Radiation therapy and chemotherapy for cancer • Certain medicines • Infections such as hepatitis, Epstein-Barr virus, or HIV • Autoimmune disorders • Certain inherited conditions

(Aplastic Anemia, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Exposure to arsenic can cause many health problems.