Arsenic

What is arsenic?

Discovered by Albertus Magnus in the year 1250, arsenic stands for many things, such as Latin arsenicum and Greek arsenikon: yellow orpiment, identified with arenikos, male, from the belief that metals were different sexes; Arabic Az-zernikh: the orpiment from Persian zerni-zar, and gold.

Yellow arsenic ( shown on the right ) has a lower gravity of 1.97, while grey arsenic ( shown on bottom left ) has a gravity of 5.73. Gray arsenic is usually the more stable form, a very brittle and semi-metallic solid. It is steel-light grey in color, crystalline, and tarnishes quickly in open air. Arsenic and all of its compounds are poisonous.


Where is it found?

Ferrous Sulfide

 Arsenic is often found in its native state, in realgar and orpiment as its sulfides, as arsenides and sulfaresenides of heavy metals, as arsenates, and as its oxide. The most common mineral is Mispickel or arsenopyrite, which can be heated to sublime arsenic, leaving ferrous sulfide.


What is it used for?
Arsenic is used for many things, but mainly is used as a doping agent in solid-state devices. Gallium arsenide is used in lasers which convert electricity into light. Arsenic is used pyrotechny, hardening and improving the sphericity of shot, and in bronzing. Arsenic compounds are used in many pesticides and other poisons.

Fun Fact: When arsenic is heated in air, it lets off a smell that resembles that of garlic. It has also been known for centuries as "The King of Poisons".