Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or containing arsenic in the trivalent state: The term "arsenious" specifically describes compounds or forms where the element arsenic (As) has a valence of three (As³⁺). It is a technical term used primarily in chemistry.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Arsenious oxide is a common compound.
  • The laboratory tested for the presence of arsenious salts in the water sample.

Advanced Usage

• "Arsenious acid": A weak, hypothetical acid (H₃AsO₃) formed when arsenious oxide dissolves in water. It is not isolated in pure form but its salts (arsenites) are known.
  • Sodium arsenite is a salt derived from arsenious acid.

Variants and Related Words

• Arsenous: An alternative, less common spelling with the same meaning.
  • Arsenous compounds are highly toxic.

Synonyms

• Trivalent arsenic: Describing arsenic with a +3 oxidation state.
• Arsenic(III): The systematic chemical nomenclature (e.g., arsenic(III) oxide).

Different Meanings

• The word "arsenious" is highly specialized and is used almost exclusively in chemistry to denote the trivalent state of arsenic. It does not have common idiomatic or figurative meanings.

Notes

• Caution: Arsenious compounds are typically highly toxic. The term is technical and not commonly used in everyday language outside scientific contexts.

Adjective

1. relating to compounds in which arsenic is trivalent