cacodyl

American  

[kak-uh-dil] / ˈkæk ə dɪl /

adjective

1. containing the cacodyl group.

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noun

1. an oily, slightly water-soluble, poisonous liquid compound composed of two cacodyl groups, (CH3 ) 2 As−As(CH3 ) 2 , that has a vile, garliclike odor and that undergoes spontaneous combustion in dry air.

cacodyl British  

/ ˈkækədaɪl, ˌkækəˈdɪlɪk /

noun

1. an oily poisonous liquid with a strong garlic smell; tetramethyldiarsine. Formula: [(CH 3 ) 2 As] 2

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Other Word Forms

• cacodylic adjective

Etymology

Origin of cacodyl

1840–50; < Greek kakṓd ( ēs ) ill-smelling ( kak ( o )- caco- + -ōd- smell + -ēs adj. suffix) + -yl

Example Sentences

As he crossed the room some evil chance made him think of the gossip outside and of his allusion to the abstruse substance known as cacodyl.

From The Firm of Girdlestone by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir

The knowledge of compound radicals received further increment at the hands of Robert W. Bunsen, the discoverer of the cacodyl compounds.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various

"After that accident I believe the work on cacodyl oxide and phosgene was suspended and I believe that work was carried out on chlorine or chlorine compounds."

From The Riddle of the Rhine; chemical strategy in peace and war by Lefebure, Victor

It is cyanide of cacodyl, and I have carried that small flask of it about with me for months.

From Raffles, Further Adventures of the Amateur Cracksman by Hornung, E. W. (Ernest William)

The formula for cyanide of cacodyl is 'Me-2CY.'

From Average Jones by Adams, Samuel Hopkins