Translation guide
White arsenic refers to arsenic trioxide, a highly toxic compound. In Japanese, it is primarily known by its chemical name or historical term.
The toxic substance used historically as a poison or in medicine.
The standard chemical term for arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃). Commonly used in scientific and historical contexts.
亜ヒ酸は猛毒です。
White arsenic is a deadly poison.
Literally 'white arsenic', a direct translation used historically or in older texts. Less common today.
白ヒはかつて殺人に使われた。
White arsenic was once used for murder.
The formal IUPAC-style name 'diarsenic trioxide'. Used in strict chemical contexts.
三酸化二ヒ素は無色の結晶です。
Arsenic trioxide is a colorless crystal.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers rarely discuss white arsenic. The term is mostly encountered in historical, scientific, or crime-related contexts. Using the chemical name 亜ヒ酸 is safest.