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A poisonous gas smelling slightly of garlic, made by the reaction of some arsenides with acids.
Alternative name: arsenic trihydride; chemical formula: AsH₃
‘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.’
‘The suspected gasses in the SIDS deaths were; arsine from arsenic, phosphine from phosphorus, and stibine from the element antimony.’
‘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.’
‘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.’
Origin
Late 19th century: from arsenic, on the pattern of amine.