Arsenic is a chemical element with an atomic number of 33 and written by the symbol As. Arsenic is a metalloid which is notoriously poisonous. Molecular non-metallic and several black and grey forms are the allotropic forms in metalloid.

Those three forms is found as arsenide and arsenate compounds. Arsenide states -3 which is usually alloy-like intermetallic compounds, and arsenites states +3 which is organoarsenic compounds, and the last arsenates states +5 which is the most stable inorganic arsenic oxycompounds.[1]

1 Properties
2 Occurrences
3 Uses
4 Health effects of Arsenic
5 References

Properties

Arsenic forms hygroscopic and acidic solutions which is colourless, crystalline oxides. Phosphorous also has same property as arsenic.[2] Arsenic may work for phosphorous in biochemical reactions, because their acid have gaseous hydride which is unstable. They also have poisonous properties, but soluble arsenic compound was a medicine which is works as stimulants in the middle of 18th century. When oxides are heated and it becomes arsenic trioxide, the vapor comes out and its smell is really bad. Arsenide mineral, arsenopyrite, is detected in this vapor. Arsenic is contained in many solid forms. For examples, some forms are soft, waxy, and usstable.[3]

Occurrences

Heavy, large rock of pure arsenic

Removing dangerous arsenic from drinking water

Arsenic is a chemical element that has the symbol As and atomic number of 33. Arsenic and its compounds are used as pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and various alloys.

Arsenic is used in several important compounds, such as white arsenic, the sulfide, Paris green, calcium arsenate, and lead arsenate. Almost 50% of white arsenic is produced in China. Peru and Chile are the secondary producer of white arsenic. Some compounds are used for agricultural insecticides (poisons).[4]

Uses

Arsenic comes from the Persian word that means yellow orpiment. In ancient time the Persian knew about arsenic as a poison. Arsenic was used by murder and it also was used on marsh test at that time. So, arsenic became the poison of kings. Arsenic was introduced by Gerber at first time and the next person who isolated arsenic is Albertus Magnus[5]

In the 20th century, Lead hydrogen arsenate was used as an insecticide but it brings about brain damage. Monosodium methyl arsenate which is a toxic organic form of arsenic are used as insecticide for agriculture in the last half of 20th century. A copper arsenate were indicated of color in sweets. Some compounds of arsenic which are arsphenamine and arsenic trioxide were used as medicines from the 18th to 20th century. Those were founded by Paul Ehrlich and Thomas Fowler. To make green color of glass, Arsenic is using because it contains iron compounds. Arsenic also is part of military poison gases.[6]

Health effects of Arsenic

Arsenic on Quartz

Arsenic has strong poison but small amounts of argenic are found in the earth. We take arsenic into our body by eating food, water, and air. Also we can take arsenic by contacting with skin. A little arsenic are in food but fish and seafood have a lot of arsenic, because they live in water, so fish and seafood which have inorganic arsenic may not good for human. Inorganic arsenic do many things which is harmful in our body, it stimulates stomach, intestine, lung, and also decrease red and white blood cell. Inorganic arsenic can be cause of cancer like skin cancer, and lung cancer.[7]

References

Arsenic MSN encarta.
Intro Arsenic The free dictionary encyclopedia (The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia).
Arsenic WebElements Periodic Table of the Elements.
Arsenic Lenntech, multiple authors.
Arsenic Wikipedia, multiple authors.

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