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noun
Chemistry[mass noun] A poisonous gas smelling slightly of garlic, made by the reaction of some arsenides with acids.
- ‘Some of the chemicals - including caustic hydrogen fluoride and deadly arsine gas - are toxic, and the fossil fuel consumed contributes to global warming, says Williams.’
- ‘The suspected gasses in the SIDS deaths were; arsine from arsenic, phosphine from phosphorus, and stibine from the element antimony.’
- ‘Since the explosion yesterday morning, which jammed a main cargo door shut, gases including hydrogen, phosphine and arsine, a derivative of arsenic, have started venting from the cargo hold.’
- ‘No effects of airborne arsenic, gaseous arsine, and arsenic loading on arsenic levels were observed.’
- ‘Perhaps arsine is formed through the reactions between element arsenic and cleaning agents used in the cleaning process.’
Origin
Late 19th century: from arsenic, on the pattern of amine.
Pronunciation:
Further reading
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