Lewisite

Lewisite
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
[(E)-2-Chloroethen-1-yl]arsonous dichloride
Other names
Chlorovinylarsine dichloride
2-Chloroethenyldichloroarsine
(E)-2-Chlorovinylarsonous dichloride
(E)-2-Chlorovinyldichloroarsine
Dichloro((E)-2-chlorovinyl)arsine
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
MeSH lewisite
UNII
UN number 2810
  • InChI=1S/C2H2AsCl3/c4-2-1-3(5)6/h1-2H/b2-1+ Y
    Key: GIKLTQKNOXNBNY-OWOJBTEDSA-N Y
  • InChI=1/C2H2AsCl3/c4-2-1-3(5)6/h1-2H/b2-1+
    Key: GIKLTQKNOXNBNY-OWOJBTEDBF
  • Cl[As](Cl)\C=C\Cl
Properties
C2H2AsCl3
Molar mass 207.32 g/mol
Density 1.89 g/cm3
Melting point −18 °C (0 °F; 255 K)
Boiling point 190 °C (374 °F; 463 K)
Reacts
Solubility Ethers, hydrocarbons, THF
Vapor pressure 0.58 mmHg (25 °C)
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
Flammable, highly toxic, corrosive, vesicant
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
4
1
1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Y verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Lewisite (L) (A-243) is an organoarsenic compound. It was once manufactured in the United States, Japan, Germany and the Soviet Union for use as a chemical weapon, acting as a vesicant (blister agent) and lung irritant. Although colorless and odorless in its pure form, impure samples of lewisite are a yellow, brown, violet-black, green, or amber oily liquid with a distinctive odor that has been described as similar to geraniums.

Lewisite is named after the US chemist and soldier Winford Lee Lewis (1878–1943). Lewisite has no applications other than use as a chemical weapon, with a chemist from the United States Army's chemical warfare laboratories stating that "no one has ever found any use for the compound".