Arsenic (chemical symbol As)
A Brief Intro to Arsenic
Arsenic is a semi-metallic solid that is number 33 on the periodic table with an atomic mass of 74.9.Arsenic has 33 protons and electrons, and 42 neutrons. Arsenic was discovered by Albertus Magnus around 1250 A . D . (no one knows for sure because it was such a long time ago) and since then it has been used by the Ancient Greeks, the Ancient Chinese and the Egyptians in bronze during the bronze age to harden the alloy. It is still mixed with metals such as cobalt, iron, copper, nickel, silver, and tin. Now arsenic is mined in the Middle East and Southern Asia.
Arsenic is a semi-metallic solid that is number 33 on the periodic table with an atomic mass of 74.9.Arsenic has 33 protons and electrons, and 42 neutrons. Arsenic was discovered by Albertus Magnus around 1250 A . D . (no one knows for sure because it was such a long time ago) and since then it has been used by the Ancient Greeks, the Ancient Chinese and the Egyptians in bronze during the bronze age to harden the alloy. It is still mixed with metals such as cobalt, iron, copper, nickel, silver, and tin. Now arsenic is mined in the Middle East and Southern Asia.
Arsenic in our Everyday Lives
Arsenic is mainly used as a poison but it found all around us in things like:
- wood preservatives
- alloys
- lead bullets
- certain pieces of electrical equipment
- rat poison
- insecticides
- weed killers
- rice (more in brown than white)
- and cigarette smoke (unexpected, right) the pesticides used on the tobacco is released when the tobacco inside of the cigarette burns
There are three allotropic forms of arsenic, black arsenic, gray arsenic (as seen above), and yellow arsenic.The most commonly used allotrope is gray arsenic, which has more luster than black arsenic, and is brittle with no useful mechanical properties. Gray arsenic is also a good conductor of heat and electricity. When arsenic is heated, it quickly oxidizes into arsenous oxide, which smells like garlic, and arsenic sublimes at 1,135 degrees Fahrenheit.
The mineral Orpiment is known as "yellow arsenic" because it contains high amounts of arsenic trisulfide, and is commonly used as dye because of it's color. To the right, there is a picture of orpiment (yellow arsenic) and black arsenic. Yellow arsenic can be opaque, or translucent. Black arsenic is charcoal colored and has less luster than gray arsenic. (The silver matter on the black arsenic is Silver, Ag) http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/1best/10179.htm http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orpiment_(Chine)_6.jpg |
Orpiment is a fairly common monoclinic mineral. It was an item of trade in the Roman Empire and was used as medicine in Ancient China, even though it is highly toxic. It was also used to poison arrows. Orpiment was popular among alchemists to make the color of gold, in China and a few Western countries.
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Natural Killer
Arsenic is most commonly known as a deadly poison that kills unwanted everyday pests. Today, some people in the Western US, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Northern China, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, Hungary, and Romania get to much arsenic in their system, resulting in arsenic poisoning. There are a lot of ways for people can get arsenic poisoning, but the most common ways are: drinking ground water that may contain arsenic, occupational exposure (like mining arsenic), and arsenic in food. The victim gets small black/brown spots dotted on their skin. Some symptoms of arsenic poisoning are: headaches, confusion, drowsiness, and night blindness. Low-dose exposure can cause cancer and the minor symptoms are usually visible within 30 minutes. The organs that are usually effected are the liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin. Serious cases of arsenic poisoning may conclude in lost fingers/toes and even DEATH.There are few known treatments but arsenic poisoning can be reversed by taking potassiums supplements which prevent heart rhythm problems.
The video that is about villagers in Bangladesh that get arsenic poisoning from their drinking water.
The video that is about villagers in Bangladesh that get arsenic poisoning from their drinking water.
One notable case was of King George ||| of Great Britain, he suffered from several mental illnesses as well as arsenic poisoning. A 2004 study samples shows that there was a dangerous amount of arsenic in his fake hair.
Words That You Should Know the Definitions to!
- Alloy - Noun - Two or more metallic elements combined into one metal, usually making a metal stronger and more resistant to corrosion
- Allotropic forms - Noun - Each of two or more physical forms of an element
- Sublime - Verb - When a solid is heated, and it skips the liquid state and transforms directly into a vapor
- Arsenic trisulfide- Noun - compound As2S3
- Opaque - Adjective - Unable to see through something, the opposite of translucent
- Translucent - Adjective - The ability to see through something, like glass...
- Luster - Noun - Something that can be partially reflective, or the shininess of an object
- Monoclinic - Adjective - a crystallization system with the crystals having three unequal axes and an intersection at a slant, not perpendicular nor parallel
- Alchemist - Noun - A chemist from the middle ages that focused mainly on turning simple metals into gold (without magic)
- Night blindness - Noun - A condition where the victim finds it impossible to see in dim light
Bibliography
Works Cited
- "Arsenic - As." Arsenic (As). N.p., -. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.
- "Arsenic." WebElements Periodic Table of the Elements. N.p., -. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.
- BBC. "Arsenic Poisoning." BBC News. BBC, Jan. 2010. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.
- Wikimedia Foundation. "Arsenic." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Mar. 2013. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.
- Wikimedia Foundation. "Orpiment." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.
- World Book Inc. "Arsenic." Introduction. The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: World Book, 2009. 744-45. Print.