What is Paris green?
'''Paris green''', which has the chemical name '''copper(II) acetoarsenite''', is a [[chemical compound]]. Its chemical formula is Cu(C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>3</sub>O<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> · 3 Cu(AsO<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>. It has [[copper]], [[acetate]], and [[arsenite]] [[ion]]s in it. The copper is in its +2 [[oxidation state]]. ==Properties== Paris green is a blue-green solid. It is extremely toxic. It has a very bright blue-green color. It darkens in air. ==Preparation== It is made by reacting [[copper(II) acetate]] with [[arsenic trioxide]] and water. ==Uses== Paris green was first used to kill [[rat]]s in [[sewer]]s in [[Paris]]. This is where it got its name from. It was used as an [[insecticide]]. It was dropped from [[airplane]]s to stop [[malaria]] in [[Italy]]. It was used as a bright green [[pigment]]. It was painted on [[ship]]s to prevent [[barnacle]]s from growing. In many places, Paris green is banned because it is so toxic. It is only used in a very few places. ==Safety== Paris green is extremely toxic. It used to be common and so was a common poison. ==Related pages== * [[Copper sulfate]] * [[Lead arsenate]] [[Category:Copper compounds]] [[Category:Arsenic compounds]]