Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. The arsenic group (CH3)2As-.
- n. A poisonous oil, As2(CH3)4, with an obnoxious garlicky odor.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. Dimethyl arsine, As(CH3)2, a metalloid radical, a compound of arsenic, hydrogen, and carbon. It was first obtained in a separate state as dicacodyl, As2 (CH3)4, by Bunsen in 1837, and formed the second instance of the isolation of a compound radical, that of cyanogen by Gay-Lussac being the first. It is a clear liquid, heavier than water, and refracting light strongly. Its smell is insupportably offensive (whence its name), and its vapor is highly poisonous. It is spontaneously inflammable In air. Alkarsin is the protoxid of cacodyl. Also written kakodyl, kakodyle. See
alkarsin .
Wiktionary
- n. chemistry The dimethylarsine radical (CH3)2As-
- n. chemistry tetramethyldiarsine formally derived from two of these radicals; an evil-smelling liquid that spontaneously combusts in air
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (Chem.) Alkarsin; a colorless, poisonous, arsenical liquid, As2(CH3)4, spontaneously inflammable and possessing an intensely disagreeable odor. It is the type of series of compounds analogous to the nitrogen compounds called hydrazines.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a poisonous oily liquid with a garlicky odor composed of 2 cacodyl groups; undergoes spontaneous combustion in dry air
- n. the univalent group derived from arsine
Etymologies
- Ancient Greek κακώδης (kakōdēs, "evil smelling") (Wiktionary)
- Greek kakōdēs, bad-smelling (kakos, bad; see kakka- in Indo-European roots + -ōdēs, -smelling from ozein, ōd-, to smell) + -yl. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“Not to confuse with cacodyl, a poisonous, oily, flammable liquid which contains arsenic and smells like garlic.”
The Huffington Post: Deborah Jiang Stein: Who Says Tough Girls Don't Wear Tutus?
“Early in his career Bunsen did research in organic chemistry, which cost him the use of his right eye when an arsenic compound, cacodyl cyanide, exploded.”
“In 1858, in Berlin, he received his doctorate for his work on cacodyl compounds which had been done in Kekulé's laboratory.”
“Simultaneously with his work on cacodyl, he was studying the composition of the gases given off from blast furnaces.”
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary"
“The first research by which attention was drawn to Bunsen's abilities was concerned with the cacodyl compounds (see ARSENIC), though he had already, in 1834, discovered the virtues of freshly precipitated hydrated ferric oxide as an antidote to arsenical poisoning.”
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary"
“After that accident I believe the work on cacodyl oxide and phosgene was suspended and I believe that work was carried out on chlorine or chlorine compounds.”
The riddle of the Rhine, chemical strategy in peace and war ...
“Reliable authority exists for the statement that soon after this date they were working with cacodyl oxide and phosgene, both well known before the war for their very poisonous nature, for use, it was believed, in hand grenades.”
The riddle of the Rhine, chemical strategy in peace and war ...
“German chemist, combined oxide of cacodyl with cyanogen, a radical of prussic acid, producing cyanide of cacodyl, or diniethyl arsine cyanide.”
“It is cyanide of cacodyl, and I have carried that small flask of it about with me for months.”
“As he crossed the room some evil chance made him think of the gossip outside and of his allusion to the abstruse substance known as cacodyl.”
Lists
‘cacodyl’ hasn't been added to any lists yet.
Tweets
Looking for tweets for cacodyl.
Comments
No comments yet...
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.