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realgar (ree-AL-gahr, ree-AL-ger) - n., an orange-red mineral of arsenic disulfide, As2S2, used as a pigment and in pyrotechnics.
Also called red orpiment. Poisonous, as you might expect, and sometimes has been used as a poison for e.g. rats, but still used in some fireworks, though not as much now that white can be obtained from modern powdered aluminum and magnesium. Adopted in the 14th century from Medieval Latin realger, from Catalan, from Arabic rahj al-ghār, lit. "powder of the mine," apparently from the way it disintegrates into an orange powder if exposed to sunlight.
---L.
Also called red orpiment. Poisonous, as you might expect, and sometimes has been used as a poison for e.g. rats, but still used in some fireworks, though not as much now that white can be obtained from modern powdered aluminum and magnesium. Adopted in the 14th century from Medieval Latin realger, from Catalan, from Arabic rahj al-ghār, lit. "powder of the mine," apparently from the way it disintegrates into an orange powder if exposed to sunlight.
---L.
