Term:Arsenic (As)
Literally meaning: “masculine, pertaining to male”
Origin: Anc Greek
'áρσενικüς /arsenikos(=masculine) > < /áρρην/aren(=male)
There is also the option of persian etymology from word zarnic=yellow, gold because of color of its allotropic form.
Coined/History
The term is derived by Greek folk etymology “αρσενικός” meaning strong, potent, powerful in reference to strong properties of the element. Arsenic minerals were known to 4th cen Greeks but not as an element. Ibertus Magnus (1193/1206-1250) is believed to have been the first to isolate the element in 1250 and in 1649 German pharmacologist Johan Schroeder (1600-1664) published ways of preparing it. Up to 1940s arsenic was used to treat syphillis.
Arsenic became a favorite murder weapon of the Middle Ages ant it called also as the Poison of Kings or the King of Poison. Its ideal for this purpose properties icluded its lack of color, odor or taste when mixed with food or drink and symptoms of poisoning could mimic food poisoning. Notable deaths by arsenic include King George III of Grait Britain and Napoleon Bonaparte.
Definition
Arsenic (As) is chemical element with atomic number 33 and atomic mass 74.92. It appears in 3 allotropic forms: yellow, black and grey. It is found on earth in small concentrations. Arsenic compounds are used as a wood preservative, for making special types of glass and in the seminoconductor gallium arsenate, which coverts electric current to laser light.
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