About
As a phono-semantic compound used in chemistry and toxicology, 砒 combines the left-side radical 石 (stone, mineral), which classifies it as an inorganic mineral-based substance, with the right-side component 比, which indicates its pronunciation. The character denotes the toxic chemical element arsenic, specifically arsenic trioxide in common compounds. Historically, this mineral was known in traditional medicine and forensics as a potent poison. The character remains strictly tied to this scientific and medical meaning, with no significant alternative or metaphorical uses in everyday language.