Chem. [f. ALK(ALI) + ARS(ENIC) + -IN, in reference to its preparation.] A heavy poisonous liquid, spontaneously inflammable, with disgusting odor of garlic, formed by distillation of arsenious oxide and dry acetate of potash, supposed to be a variable mixture of cacodyl and its oxidation products.
1850. Daubeny, Atom. Theory, vii. (ed. 2), 219. Cadet’s fuming liquor also called alkarsine.
1875. Bloxham, Chem., 524. Alcarsin has the properties of a base; it is capable of combining with the oxygen acids to form crystalline salts.
