Arsenic is a versatile element with various physical and chemical properties, including being both a metal and non-metal. It is known for its toxicity but has been used in industry and manufacturing, as well as herbicides, insecticides, and even medicinal and cosmetic products. Arsenic can cause accidental illness or death if ingested or inhaled and can lead to mass organ failure.
Arsenic is a metallic element that occurs naturally within the earth and has a chemical symbol of As. Despite its reputation as a toxic poison, arsenic has many other beneficial properties. The chemical, physical and other properties of arsenic vary according to the shape and characteristics of this element. It can be both a metal and a non-metal and comes in liquid, solid and gaseous forms. Regardless of arsenic’s properties and state, this material always exhibits an atomic number of 33, representing its 33 electrons.
The physical properties of arsenic largely depend on how it is processed. Natural arsenic exhibits a silvery gray color and serves as a highly effective conductive material. It has a garlic smell and is chemically stable, but quite fragile.
When heated, the properties of arsenic change when it turns into a liquid, then into a gas. This gas is known as yellow arsenic, and as it cools and solidifies, it develops a soft, waxy texture. Once yellow arsenic is exposed to light, it turns into black arsenic. Black arsenic is considered a mineral and is completely non-metallic.
To examine the chemical properties of arsenic, characteristics such as boiling point and solubility need to be investigated. Arsenic boils at 615 degrees Celsius (1.139 Fahrenheit), while solid versions melt at 814 degrees Celsius (1.497 Fahrenheit). It is not soluble in water in its natural state, although arsenic often binds with natural salts or minerals, which may be water soluble in some cases. Depending on where the arsenic is found, it can exist in crystalline or powdered form.
One of the best known properties of arsenic is its toxicity. Man has recognized arsenic as a potent poison for more than a millennium and has used this element as both a herbicide and an insecticide. In some cases, it is also served in medicinal products or even beauty and cosmetic products. Man has also used arsenic as a chemical weapon, or simply as a discreet way to poison ancient kings and other leaders.
Even in its natural state, arsenic can cause accidental illness or death if it comes into contact with local water supplies. Once ingested or inhaled, this material competes with phosphates in the body during standard metabolic processes, ultimately leading to mass organ failure.
Certain properties of arsenic make it useful in industry and manufacturing. Treating copper with arsenic gives copper a silvery finish, making it a popular tool for forgers. In modern times, arsenic is used to harden lead and copper or to prevent discoloration of brass, bronze and even glass. It also serves as the fastest semiconductor available, but is rarely used due to its high cost.
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