Tl (Noun)
Meaning
A soft grey malleable metallic element that resembles tin but discolors on exposure to air; it is highly toxic and is used in rodent and insect poisons; occurs in zinc blende and some iron ores.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The pest control company warned that the poison baits contained thallium and should be handled with care.
- Thallium was once used in rat poison, but its use has been largely discontinued due to its high toxicity.
- The mining company extracted thallium as a byproduct of zinc production from the zinc blende ore.
- Thallium poisoning can cause hair loss, skin discoloration, and nerve damage, among other symptoms.
- The scientist handled the thallium sample with gloves and worked in a well-ventilated area to avoid exposure.