Ethyldichloroarsine, sometimes abbreviated "ED" and also known as ethyl Dick, is an organoarsenic compound with the formula CH₃CH₂AsCl₂. This colourless volatile liquid is a highly toxic obsolete vesicant or

blister agent A blister agent (or vesicant), is a chemical compound that causes severe skin, eye and mucosal pain and irritation. They are named for their ability to cause severe chemical burns, resulting in painful water blisters on the bodies of those affec ...

that was used during World War I in

chemical warfare Chemical warfare (CW) involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from nuclear warfare, biological warfare and radiological warfare, which together make up CBRN, the military acronym ...

. The molecule is pyramidal with the Cl-As-Cl and C-As-Cl angles approaching 90° (see image). Ethyldichloroarsine has high chronic toxicity, similar to

lewisite Lewisite (L) (A-243) is an organoarsenic compound. It was once manufactured in the U.S., Japan, Germany and the Soviet Union for use as a Chemical warfare, chemical weapon, acting as a vesicant (blister agent) and lung irritant. Although the substa ...

References

{{Chemical warfare Arsenical vesicants Organoarsenic chlorides