realgar

American  

[ree-al-ger, -gahr] / riˈæl gər, -gɑr /

noun

1. arsenic disulfide, As 2 S 2 , found in nature as an orange-red mineral and also produced artificially: used in pyrotechnics.

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realgar British  

/ rɪˈælɡə /

noun

1. a rare orange-red soft mineral consisting of arsenic sulphide in monoclinic crystalline form. It occurs in Utah and Romania and as a deposit from hot springs. It is an important ore of arsenic and is also used as a pigment. Formula: AsS

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Etymology

Origin of realgar

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin realger ≪ Arabic rahj al-ghār powder of the mine or cave

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

realgar

I stuck my head inside a cabinet to get a close look at the rocks of the arsenic sulfides realgar and orpiment, blazes of flame orange locked within the crystals.

From The New Yorker ● Aug. 27, 2018

Mix together realgar and orpiment; some object to this mixture on account of the poisonous nature of the ingredients.

From Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets by Young, Daniel

The combination of sulphur and arsenic, by melting them together, is of a red colour, known by the name of realgal, or realgar.

From Heads of Lectures on a Course of Experimental Philosophy: Particularly Including Chemistry by Priestley, Joseph

To the unctuous juices belong these species: sulphur, bitumen, realgar and orpiment.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius

Then his wife untied him, carried him to bed, and gave him wine mingled with realgar to drink.

From The Chinese Fairy Book by Wilhelm, Richard