Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 25, 2026

Arsenical

Arsenicals are chemical compounds that contain arsenic. In a military context, the term arsenical refers to toxic arsenic compounds that are used as chemical warfare agents. This includes blister agents, blood agents and vomiting agents. Historically, they were used extensively as insecticides, especially lead arsenate.

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Jul 25, 2026
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Arsenicals are chemical compounds that contain arsenic.12 In a military context, the term arsenical refers to toxic arsenic compounds that are used as chemical warfare agents. This includes blister agents, blood agents and vomiting agents.34 Historically, they were used extensively as insecticides, especially lead arsenate.

Examples

Blister agents

Blood agents

Vomiting agents

References

References

  1. Gaion A, Sartori D, Scuderi A, Fattorini D (2014). "Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic compounds in Hediste diversicolor (Muller 1776) after exposure to spiked sediments". Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 21 (9): 5952–5959. Bibcode:2014ESPR...21.5952G. doi:10.1007/s11356-014-2538-z. PMID 24458939. S2CID 12568097.
  2. "Arsenicals - MeSH - NCBI".
  3. Handbook of chemical and biological warfare agents (2nd ed.). CRC Press. 24 August 2007. ISBN 9780849314346.
  4. Compendium of chemical warfare agents. Springer. 15 November 2006. ISBN 9780387346267.