benzyl bromide

noun

: a colorless to slightly yellow corrosive liquid C₇H₇Br used in organic synthesis and formerly used as a war gas due to its irritant effects on skin and the mucous membranes

At Bolimov, on 31 Jan. 1915, Haber's troops fired shells filled with liquid benzyl bromide, a tear gas suggested by Hans Tappan, another chemist, but at the extremely cold temperatures the liquid failed to vaporize.

—Donald Richter, Chemical Soldiers, 1992

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

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