Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1963

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Chemistry

Abstract

Dimethyl selenide mercuric chloride complex was prepared and characterized. Dimethyl selenide as released from this complex was gas chromatographed as a reference standard in the identification of dimethyl selenide respired from organisms administered selenium compounds. Gas chromatographic evidence in which the retention time of the reference standard was compared with the unknown indicated that selenium compounds are metabolized by organisms with the elimination of dimethyl selenide as an end product of respiration. Rats administered sodium selenite intraperitoneally respired an odorous gas which was shown to be dimethyl selenide. Aspergillus mold administered sodium selenite yielded a volatile product which appeared as dimethyl selenide of the chromatogram. Astragalus bisulcatus plants and seeds from Astragalus bisulcatus and Astragalus racemosus on respiration evolve a gas of which one of the components was identified as dimethyl selenide.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Selenium compounds
Selenium -- Physiological effects

Description

Includes bibliographical references

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

52

Share

COinS