I'm trying to figure out if poisons are considered Alchemical liquid or powder items.
And if I could use this ability to infuse an arrow with a poison?
You can apply any contact poison or injury poison to any weapon. Having the "poison use" class feature or ability means you do not suffer a 5% chance of poisoning yourself when applying poison to weapons.
Poisons are created with the Craft (alchemy) skill, but as far as a poison being in liquid or powder form.... /shrug idk. Some poisons you can infer the form based on the name (like Lich Dust sure sounds like a powder form to me). You could also look up some of the real-life poisons online. For instance, coniine is the poisonus compound found in hemlock, and is a liquid at room temperature, whereas elemental arsenic is a solid at room temperature (but is highly soluble in water).
Also keep in mind some classes have abilities that let them change the delivery method of poisons (such as the poison conversion "alchemy trick" that alchemists get). A character with that ability can effectively change a contact poison into an inhaled poison, or a consumed poison into an injury poison, etc.
The central question is, do poisons count as Alchemical? Everything in the alchemist's arsenal is going to be a liquid or a powder.
Even though poisons are crafted with Craft: Alchemy, I'm inclined to say no. They're a different category of equipment altogether, not a sub-category, and the Alchemical Weapon ability provides a few examples to underscore that it's meant for "alchemical weapons", not poison.
Actually according to the faq, which I just noticed that Poisons count as Alchemical Items for the purposes of Alchemist Class Features.
Actually according to the faq, which I just noticed that Poisons count as Alchemical Items for the purposes of Alchemist Class Features.
Well, that settles that.