arsenite

A chemist carefully labels a bottle of arsenite solution.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A salt or ester of arsenious acid: "arsenite" refers to a chemical compound derived from arsenious acid (H₃AsO₃), typically containing the anion AsO₃³⁻ or a related form. It is a type of arsenical compound often used in pesticides, herbicides, and industrial processes.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Sodium arsenite is a common compound used in wood preservation. (A specific salt of arsenious acid.)
  • The laboratory tested for the presence of arsenite in the water sample. (The chemical form of arsenic in a dissolved state.)

Advanced Usage

• "Arsenite poisoning": a condition caused by ingestion or exposure to arsenite compounds, which are highly toxic.

  • Chronic exposure to arsenite can lead to skin lesions and cancer. (Long-term contact with the compound causes health issues.)

• "Arsenite oxidase": an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of arsenite to arsenate in some bacteria.

  • The microbe uses arsenite oxidase to detoxify its environment. (The enzyme helps convert the toxic form to a less harmful one.)

Variants and Related Words

• Arsenious (adj): relating to or derived from arsenic in its trivalent state.

  • Arsenious acid is the parent compound of arsenites. (The acid that forms arsenite salts.)

• Arsenate (n): a salt or ester of arsenic acid (H₃AsO₄), containing the anion AsO₄³⁻, which is a more oxidized form of arsenic.

  • Arsenate is less toxic than arsenite in many biological systems. (A different chemical form of arsenic.)

Synonyms

• Arsenical compound: a broader term for any chemical containing arsenic.
  • The pesticide was classified as an arsenical compound. (A general category including arsenites.)

Related Idioms

• None applicable: "arsenite" is a technical chemical term and does not appear in common idiomatic expressions.