dimercaprol
/ˌdʌɪməˈkaprɒl
/noun [mass noun] Chemistry
A colourless, oily liquid with an unpleasant smell, used as an antidote for poisoning by mercury, arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals.
- Alternative name: 2,3,-dimercapto-1-propanol; chemical formula: CH2(SH)CH(SH)CH2OH.
- Dimercaprol, or BAL, binds with lead and is excreted in bile and urine.
- Treatment may include the use of chelating agents such as dimercaprol, dimercaptosuccinic acid, and dimercaptopanesulfonic acid.
Origin
1940s: from elements of the systematic name (see above).
- benefaction
- benefactive
- benefactor
- benefactress
- benefic
- benefice
- beneficed
- beneficence
- beneficent
- beneficently
- beneficial
- beneficially
- beneficials
- beneficiary
- beneficiate
- beneficiation
- benefit
- benefit of clergy
- benefit package
- benefit society
- benefits package
- benefit tourism
- benefit tourist
- Benelux
- benevolence