Ethyldichloroarsine, sometimes abbreviated as "ED" and "CY" and also known as ethyl Dick,
is an
organoarsenic compound
Organoarsenic chemistry is the chemistry of Chemical compound, compounds containing a chemical bond between arsenic and carbon. A few organoarsenic compounds, also called "organoarsenicals," are produced industrially with uses as insecticides, herb ...
with the formula CH
3CH
2AsCl
2. This colourless volatile liquid is a highly toxic obsolete
vesicant
A blister agent (or vesicant) is a chemical compound that causes severe skin, eye and mucosal pain and irritation in the form of severe chemical burns resulting in fluid filled blisters. Named for their ability to cause vesication, blister a ...
or
blister agent that was used during World War I in
chemical warfare.
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 United States, Japan, Germany and the Soviet Union for use as a Chemical warfare, chemical weapon, acting as a vesicant (blister agent) and lung irritant. Although ...
.
References
{{Chemical warfare
Arsenical vesicants
Organoarsenic chlorides