What is Arsenic?
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Arsenic is a metalloid - a natural element with properties of both metals and non-metals.
Usually considered under metalloids are the elements: boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium. |
The History of the Element:
It is believed that this element was first discovered by a German alchemist by the name of Albertus Magnus in 1250.
During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, many people had used arsenic as a chemical for poisoning and killing off another person, either for punishment, personal gain, or suicide. Arsenic was a very popular poison in history because a person could not have an idea if he/she was being poisoned: the element, when mixed into food or drink, is odorless, tasteless, and cannot be seen. It can also be easily found, as arsenic is found in the rocks, soil, and minerals. In 82 BC, Roman dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla finally made a law against poisoning called the Lex Cornelia, due to the amount of people dying from being poisoned.
In history, arsenic has also been used in paint and wallpaper, and many people died because of the exposure to this element.
A notorious woman in history by the name of Toffana laced arsenic into many cosmetic products and then instructed women on how to put it on, therefore making them sick from the arsenic in the makeup.
In the 1940s, there was a war gas that was created with arsenic as one of the ingredients. This was gas reacted with skin proteins to create huge blisters.
Atomic mass: 74.92160
Atomic number: 33
Density: 5.776 g/cm
Element Symbol: As
Common Uses:
It is believed that this element was first discovered by a German alchemist by the name of Albertus Magnus in 1250.
During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, many people had used arsenic as a chemical for poisoning and killing off another person, either for punishment, personal gain, or suicide. Arsenic was a very popular poison in history because a person could not have an idea if he/she was being poisoned: the element, when mixed into food or drink, is odorless, tasteless, and cannot be seen. It can also be easily found, as arsenic is found in the rocks, soil, and minerals. In 82 BC, Roman dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla finally made a law against poisoning called the Lex Cornelia, due to the amount of people dying from being poisoned.
In history, arsenic has also been used in paint and wallpaper, and many people died because of the exposure to this element.
A notorious woman in history by the name of Toffana laced arsenic into many cosmetic products and then instructed women on how to put it on, therefore making them sick from the arsenic in the makeup.
In the 1940s, there was a war gas that was created with arsenic as one of the ingredients. This was gas reacted with skin proteins to create huge blisters.
Atomic mass: 74.92160
Atomic number: 33
Density: 5.776 g/cm
Element Symbol: As
Common Uses:
- Arsenic is used in ammunition manufacturing because it helps to create harder and rounder bullets.
- Before penicillin was developed, arsenic compound was used to treat syphilis and yaws.
- Arsenic is used in combination with other materials in pigments, poison gases and insecticides.
- Arsenic was used in a compound called Paris Green developed around 1775 by Carl Scheele, which was used as a pigment in paints, wallpaper and fabrics. Throughout the 1800s, there were reports of people becoming ill from living in houses decorated with the poisonous wallpaper.
- Arsenic was well known as an ingredient of rat poison.
- It is used as a preservative in tanning and taxidermy.
- Arsenic is also used as a preservative for the exterior of the wood such as deck and playground materials