[n. ahr-suh-nik, ahrs-nik; adj. ahr-sen-ik] 
| 1. | a grayish-white element having a metallic luster, vaporizing when heated, and forming poisonous compounds. Symbol: As; atomic weight: 74.92; atomic number: 33. |
| 2. | arsenic trioxide. |
| 3. | a mineral, the native element, occurring in white or gray masses. |
| a white, tasteless, amorphous, slightly water-soluble, poisonous powder, As2O3, used chiefly in the manufacture of pigments and glass and as an insecticide or weed-killer; arsenous acid. |
| ar·se·nic (är'sə-nĭk) n.
Of or containing arsenic, especially with valence 5. [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.] |
arsenic ar·se·nic (är'sə-nĭk)
n.
Symbol As
A poisonous metallic element having three allotropes, of which the gray form is the most common. Arsenic compounds are used in insecticides and solid-state doping agents. Atomic number 33; atomic weight 74.922; valence 3, 5. Gray arsenic melts at 817°C (at 28 atm pressure), sublimes at 614°C, and has a specific gravity of 5.73. adj. ar·sen·ic (är-sěn'ĭk)
Of or containing arsenic, especially with valence 5.
| arsenic (är'sə-nĭk) Pronunciation Key
Symbol As 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. See Periodic Table. |