Thallium

/ˈθæliəm/ noun

Definition

A soft, heavy metal element that is highly toxic and was historically used in rat poisons but is now tightly controlled.

Etymology

From Greek 'thallos' meaning 'green shoot' because thallium produces a bright green spectral line; discovered in 1861 and named for its characteristic color.

Kelly Says

Thallium is so poisonous that it was once used as a murder weapon and appears in crime novels, but it's also used today in infrared detectors and specialized scientific instruments.

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