Arsenic

Arsenic is found in several allotropic forms and has both metallic and non-metallic properties. The grey metallic allotrope is a brittle, crystalline solid which tarnishes readily in air and burns in oxygen. It is resistant to attack by dilute acids and alkalis, but will react with hot acids and molten NaOH. Arsenic is poisonous (it is thought to have been responsible for the death of Napoleon) and occurs both free and combined in many minerals. Applications for grey arsenic include its use as an alloying element, its use in the manufacture of certain types of glass and as a donor impurity in germanium semiconductor devices. The non-metallic allotropes include yellow arsenic (may be formed by rapid condensation of Arsenic vapour in an inert atmosphere) and black arsenic (may be formed by slow condensation of the vapour in an inert atmosphere).

Symbol

As

Discovered

13th. century by Albertus Magnus (although believed to have been used much earlier as an alloying addition to bronze to provide a lustrous finish).

Abundance

1.5 ppm of the Earth's crust.

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Atomic number	33		Clip
Atomic / Molecular Weight	74.9216	gmol-1	Clip
Density	5776	kgm-3	Clip
Crystal Structure	Rhombohedral		Clip
Lattice constant	413	fm	Clip
Photo-electric work function	5.1	eV	Clip
Melting Point	883	K	Clip
Specific heat capacity	326	Jkg-1K-1	Clip
Bulk Modulus of Rigidity	22000000000	Nm-2	Clip
Electromotive Series	-0.3	V	Clip

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See also: Arsenic III Oxide, Arsenic V Oxide, Periodic Table.