arsenic

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“
The earlier parts of these changes can be ruled out in the same way as we can rule out the process by which the arsenic was acquired.

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Definitions (13)

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  1. noun A highly poisonous metallic element having three allotropic forms, yellow, black, and gray, of which the brittle, crystalline gray is the most common. Arsenic and its compounds are used in insecticides, weed killers, solid-state doping agents, 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. See Table at element.
  2. noun Arsenic trioxide.
  3. adjective Of or containing arsenic, especially with valence 5.

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Examples (40)

  • Crystal Clear Technologies has developed a novel approach to separate out toxic contaminants such as arsenic, copper, uranium and selenium.
  • Rather they are byproducts of aluminum and fertilizer manufacturing and contain a high concentration of toxins and heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and chromium. —  Original Signal - Transmitting Digg
  • But then other scientists said that the arsenic was from hair tonic, not poisoning, and that no one had murdered Napoleon after all. —  Conservapedia - Recent changes [en]
  • Both health and community officials said the arsenic is in no way tied to the city's drinking water, and residents should not confuse one with the other.
  • Burning coal releases over 100 solid pollutants such as arsenic, selenium, lead, cadmium, chromium, boron, thallium and molybdenum in the form of fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, and sludge. —  Salem News
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. 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; see ghel-2 in Indo-European roots.

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  1. Early modern English also arsenick, arsnick, from Middle English arsenik, arsnck, from Old French arsenic, modern F. arsenic = Spanish arsénico = Portuguese Italian arsenico, from Latin arsenicum, arrenicum, arrhenicum, from Greek ἀρσενικόν, yellow arsenic, orpiment, literally ‘masculine,’ being neuter of ἀρσενικός, ἀρρενικός masculine, from ἄρσην,ἄσσ, σ1ην, male, also strong, = Zend arshan, a man, male. The name is said to refer to the powerful qualities of arsenic.
 

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/æs æ naʊn/
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