Disodium methyl arsonate
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Disodium methyl arsenate (DSMA) is the organoarsenic compound with the formula CH3AsO3Na2. It is a colorless, water-soluble solid derived from methanearsonic acid. It is used as a herbicide.[1] Tradenames include Metharsinat, Arrhenal, Disomear, Metharsan, Stenosine, Tonarsan, Tonarsin, Arsinyl, Arsynal, and Diarsen.
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| Names | |
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| IUPAC name
Disodium methyl-dioxido-oxoarsorane | |
| Other names
Disodium methanearsonate; disodium methylarsonate | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| Abbreviations | DSMA |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.005.110 |
PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| CH3AsNa2O3 | |
| Molar mass | 183.93 g/mol |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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The EPA states that all forms of arsenic are a serious risk to human health and the United States' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ranked arsenic as number 1 in its 2001 Priority List of Hazardous Substances at Superfund sites.[2] Arsenic is classified as a Group-A carcinogen.[2] The EPA states[3] that:
Arsenate (AsV) is the oxidized form and occurs in well-aerated soils, whereas in chemically-reduced soil environments, arsenite (AsIII) is the prevalent As form. Although arsenite is more toxic than arsenate, arsenate can also have deleterious effects on humans, plants, and microorganisms. Arsenic-contaminated soils pose serious risk to human health.
The EPA also states that, while contaminated soil poses a serious risk to health, arsenic frequently mobilizes from soils and other sources, ending up in water where it is even more of a toxicity issue.[2]