A chemical compound used as an antidote to heavy metal poisoning, especially from mercury or arsenic, by binding to these toxic metals and helping the body eliminate them.
From 'dimercaptan' (a molecule with two thiol groups) + 'propanol.' The name describes its chemical structure: 'di-' (two) + 'mercaptan' (sulfur-containing group) + 'propanol' (three-carbon alcohol). Developed in the 1940s as a wartime medical innovation.
Dimercaprol was invented during World War II as a defense against chemical weapons, and it's a perfect example of how medical emergencies drive innovation—it's still used today in poison control centers to save lives from accidental mercury exposure or arsenic contamination.
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