A prefix used in chemistry to indicate the presence of an arsenic atom or arsine group within a larger molecule.
From arsine + -o (combining form indicator). This prefix became standard in 20th-century chemical nomenclature for naming complex organic compounds containing arsenic.
The arsino- prefix in compound names like 'arsinobacteria' helps scientists quickly recognize that arsenic is a key part of a microorganism's metabolism, opening up study of arsenic-breathing bacteria.
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