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General | |||||||||||||
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Name, Symbol, Number | Arsenic, As, 33 | ||||||||||||
Series | Metalloids | ||||||||||||
Group, Period, Block | 15 (VA), 4 , p | ||||||||||||
Density, Hardness | 5727 kg/m3, 3.5 | ||||||||||||
Appearance | metallic grey | ||||||||||||
Atomic Properties | |||||||||||||
Atomic weight | 74.92160 amu | ||||||||||||
Atomic radius (calc.) | 115 (114) pm | ||||||||||||
Covalent radius | 119 pm | ||||||||||||
van der Waals radius | 185 pm | ||||||||||||
Electron configuration | [Ar]33d10 4s2 4p3 | ||||||||||||
e- 's per energy level | 2, 8, 18, 5 | ||||||||||||
Oxidation states (Oxide) | +-3,5 (mildly acidic) | ||||||||||||
Crystal structure | Rhombohedral | ||||||||||||
Physical Properties | |||||||||||||
State of matter | solid | ||||||||||||
Melting point | 1090 K (1503 °F) | ||||||||||||
Boiling point | 887 K (1137 °F) | ||||||||||||
Molar volume | 12.95 ×1010-3 m3/mol | ||||||||||||
Heat of vaporization | 34.76 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||
Heat of fusion | 369.9 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||
Vapor pressure | __ Pa at __ K | ||||||||||||
Speed of sound | __ m/s at __ K | ||||||||||||
Miscellaneous | |||||||||||||
Electronegativity | 2.18 (Pauling scale) | ||||||||||||
Specific heat capacity | 330 J/(kg*K) | ||||||||||||
Electrical conductivity | 3.45 106/m ohm | ||||||||||||
Thermal conductivity | 50 W/(m*K) | ||||||||||||
1st ionization potential | 947.0 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||
2nd ionization potential | 1798 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||
3rd ionization potential | 2735 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||
4th ionization potential | 4837 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||
5th ionization potential | 6043 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||
6th ionization potential | 12310 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||
Most Stable Isotopes | |||||||||||||
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SI units & STP are used except where noted. |
Table of contents |
2 Applications 3 History 4 Occurrence 5 Precautions 6 External Links |
Notable Characteristics
Arsenic is chemically very similar to its predecessor phosphorus, so much so that it will partly substitute for it in biochemical reactions and is thus poisonous. When heated it rapidly oxidizes to arsenous oxide, which has a garlic odor. Arsenic and some arsenic compounds can also sublime upon heating, converting to gaseous form directly. Elemental arsenic is found in two solid forms: yellow and gray/metallic, with specific gravities of 1.97 and 5.73, respectively.
Applications
Lead arsenate has been used, well into the 20th century, as a pesticide on fruit trees (resulting in neurological damage to those working the sprayers), and copper arsenate has even been recorded in the 19th century as a coloring agent in sweets. Other uses;
- Various agricultural insecticides and poisons.
- Gallium arsenide is an important semiconductor material, used in integrated circuits. Circuits made using the compound are much faster (but also much more expensive) than those made in silicon. Unlike silicon it is direct bandgap, and so can be used in is used in laser diodes and LEDs to directly convert electricity into light.
- Arsenic trioxide has been used in hematology to treat patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia that are resistant to ATRA treatment
- Also used in; bronzing, pyrotechny
History
Arsenic (Greek arsenikon, meaning "yellow orpiment") has been known and used since ancient times. It has been frequently used for murder, the symptoms of arsenic poisoning being somewhat ill-defined, until the advent of the Marsh test, a sensitive chemical test for its presence.
Albertus Magnus is believed to have been the first to isolate the
element in 1250. In 1649 Johann Schroeder published two ways of preparing arsenic.
Occurrence
Arsenopyrite also called mispickel (FeSAsAs) is the most common mineral from which, on heating, the arsenic sublimes leaving ferrous sulfide.
The most important compounds of arsenic are white arsenic, its sulfide, Paris green, calcium arsenate, and lead arsenate. Paris green, calcium arsenate, and lead arsenate have been used as agricultural insecticides and poisons. It is sometimes found native, but usually combined with silver, cobalt, nickel, iron, antimony, or sulfur.
Precautions
Arsenic and many of its compounds are especially potent poisons.
Arsenic kills by massively disrupting the digestive system, leading to death from shock. See arsenic poisoning.
See also: