☠️ A toxic chemical ☠️ Contains arsenic

arsenical

1 9.9

A pesticide or drug that contains arsenic

noun
/ˌɑːrsəˈnɪkəl/

Specialized

: arsénico

The doctor prescribed an arsenical treatment for the patient's illness.

Examples

Farmers often use arsenicals to effectively control agricultural pests.
Why should arsenicals do likewise?

Fiction book (1991)
Certain historical pesticides, known as arsenicals, were used to combat crop infestations.

Synonyms

arsenate

vsarsenical

Specialized

1 9.9

A chemical salt that contains arsenic and oxygen, often found in water or soil

is a broader category of substances containing that element used as pesticide or drug

white arsenic

vsarsenical

Archaic

1 9.3

A poisonous white powder used to kill pests and make glass

is a broader category of substances containing that element used as pesticide or drug

arsenic trioxide

vsarsenical

Specialized

6.2

A medicine doctors give into a vein to treat a serious blood cancer

is a broader category of substances containing that element used as pesticide or drug

arsenous oxide

vsarsenical

Specialized

9.8

A poisonous white powder that people use to make glass and to kill pests or weeds

is a broader category of substances containing that element used as pesticide or drug

arsenous anhydride

vsarsenical

Specialized

9.9

A white poisonous powder used in glass making and in products that kill pests

is a broader category of substances containing that element used as pesticide or drug

Surface Forms

arsenical singular

arsenicals plural

Morphology

arsenical = arsenical (transparent) = arsenic + al

The noun is a straightforward nominal use of the adjective 'arsenical', referring to an arsenic-containing substance.

Etymology

An arsenical (the noun) is named after arsenic, from Greek arsenikon, the name for a strong, yellow mineral once used in pesticides. So an arsenical is a substance that 'contains arsenic', often used to kill pests and therefore dangerous.