Arsenic Element Information, Facts, Properties, Trends, Uses, Comparison with other elements
Arsenic is a chemical element with symbol As and atomic number 33. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. Arsenic is a Metalloid.
It belongs to group 15 of the periodic table having trivial name pentels, pnictogens*. You can also download Printable Periodic Table of Elements Flashcards for Arsenic in a PDF format.
Arsenic Facts
Read key information and facts about element Arsenic
Name | Arsenic |
Atomic Number | 33 |
Atomic Symbol | As |
Atomic Weight | 74.9216 |
Phase | Solid |
Color | Silver |
Appearance | metallic grey |
Classification | Metalloid |
Natural Occurance | Primordial |
Group in Periodic Table | 15 |
Group Name | nitrogen family |
Period in Periodic Table | period 4 |
Block in Periodic Table | p-block |
Electronic Configuration | [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p3 |
Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2, 8, 18, 5 |
Melting Point | 1090 K |
Boiling Point | 887 K |
CAS Number | CAS7440-38-2 |
How to Locate Arsenic on Periodic Table
Periodic table is arranged by atomic number, number of protons in the nucleus which is same as number of electrons. The atomic number increases from left to right. Periodic table starts at top left ( Atomic number 1) and ends at bottom right (atomic number 118). Therefore you can directly look for atomic number 33 to find Arsenic on periodic table.
Another way to read periodic table and locate an element is by using group number (column) and period number (row). To locate Arsenic on periodic table look for cross section of group 15 and period 4 in the modern periodic table.
Arsenic History
The element Arsenic was discovered by Arabic alchemist in year ca. 800 AD . Arsenic was first isolated by in . Arsenic derived its name English word (Latin arsenicum).
Discovered By | Arabic alchemist |
Discovery Date | ca. 800 AD |
First Isolation | |
Isolated by |
First isolated by Jabir ibn Hayyan , an Arabian alchemist. Albertus Magnus was the first European to isolate the element.
Arsenic Uses
This element is used as a doping agent in transistors, majorly with Gallium. Many arsenic compounds are used as insecticides and poisons.
Arsenic Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
The table below shows the abundance of Arsenic in Universe, Sun, Meteorites, Earth's Crust, Oceans and Human Body.
ppb by weight (1ppb =10^-7 %) | ppb by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %) | |
---|---|---|
Abundance in Universe | 8 | 0.1 |
Abundance in Sun | - | - |
Abundance in Meteorites | 1800 | 460 |
Abundance in Earth's Crust | 2100 | 580 |
Abundance in Oceans | 2.3 | 0.19 |
Abundance in Humans | 50 | 4 |
Crystal Structure of Arsenic
The solid state structure of Arsenic is Simple Trigonal.
The Crystal structure can be described in terms of its unit Cell. The unit Cells repeats itself in three dimensional space to form the structure.
Unit Cell Parameters
The unit cell is represented in terms of its lattice parameters, which are the lengths of the cell edges Lattice Constants (a, b and c)
a | b | c |
---|---|---|
375.98 pm | 375.98 pm | 1054.75 pm |
and the angles between them Lattice Angles (alpha, beta and gamma).
alpha | beta | gamma |
---|---|---|
π/2 | π/2 | 2 π/3 |
The positions of the atoms inside the unit cell are described by the set of atomic positions ( xi, yi, zi) measured from a reference lattice point.
The symmetry properties of the crystal are described by the concept of space groups. All possible symmetric arrangements of particles in three-dimensional space are described by the 230 space groups (219 distinct types, or 230 if chiral copies are considered distinct.
Space Group Name | R_ 3m |
Space Group Number | 166 |
Crystal Structure | Simple Trigonal |
Number of atoms per unit cell |
The number of atoms per unit cell in a simple cubic, face-centered cubic and body-centred cubic are 1,4,2 respectively.
Arsenic Atomic and Orbital Properties
Arsenic atoms have 33 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 8, 18, 5] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) 4S3/2.
Atomic Number | 33 |
Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 33 |
Number of Protons | 33 |
Mass Number | 75 |
Number of Neutrons | 42 |
Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2, 8, 18, 5 |
Electron Configuration | [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p3 |
Valence Electrons | 4s2 4p3 |
Valence (Valency) | 5 |
Main Oxidation States | -3, 3, 5 |
Oxidation States | -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 4S3/2 |
Bohr Atomic Model of Arsenic - Electrons per energy level
n | s | p | d | f |
---|
Ground State Electronic Configuration of Arsenic - neutral Arsenic atom
Abbreviated electronic configuration of Arsenic
The ground state abbreviated electronic configuration of Neutral Arsenic atom is [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p3. The portion of Arsenic configuration that is equivalent to the noble gas of the preceding period, is abbreviated as [Ar]. For atoms with many electrons, this notation can become lengthy and so an abbreviated notation is used. This is important as it is the Valence electrons 4s2 4p3, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.
Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Arsenic
Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Arsenic atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p3
Electrons are filled in atomic orbitals as per the order determined by the Aufbau principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle and Hund’s Rule.
As per the Aufbau principle the electrons will occupy the orbitals having lower energies before occupying higher energy orbitals. According to this principle, electrons are filled in the following order: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p…
The Pauli exclusion principle states that a maximum of two electrons, each having opposite spins, can fit in an orbital.
Hund's rule states that every orbital in a given subshell is singly occupied by electrons before a second electron is filled in an orbital.
Atomic Structure of Arsenic
Arsenic atomic radius is 114 pm, while it's covalent radius is 119 pm.
Atomic Radius Calculated | 114 pm(1.14 Å) |
Atomic Radius Empirical | 115 pm (1.15 Å) |
Atomic Volume | 12.95 cm3/mol |
Covalent Radius | 119 pm (1.19 Å) |
Van der Waals Radius | 185 pm |
Neutron Cross Section | 4.3 |
Neutron Mass Absorption | 0.002 |
Spectral Lines of Arsenic - Atomic Spectrum of Arsenic
A spectral line is a dark or bright line in an otherwise uniform and continuous spectrum, resulting from an excess or deficiency of photons in a narrow frequency range, compared with the nearby frequencies. Spectral lines are often used to identify atoms and molecules.
Spectral lines are the result of interaction between a quantum system and a single photon. A spectral line may be observed either as an emission line or an absorption line.
Spectral lines are highly atom-specific, and can be used to identify the chemical composition of any medium. Several elements, including helium, thallium, and caesium, were discovered by spectroscopic means. They are widely used to determine the physical conditions of stars and other celestial bodies that cannot be analyzed by other means.
Emission spectrum of Arsenic
Absorption spectrum of Arsenic
Arsenic Chemical Properties: Arsenic Ionization Energies and electron affinity
The electron affinity of Arsenic is 78 kJ/mol.
Valence | 5 |
Electronegativity | 2.18 |
ElectronAffinity | 78 kJ/mol |
Ionization Energy of Arsenic
Ionization energy is the amount of energy required to remove an electron from an atom or molecule.in chemistry, this energy is expresed in kilocalories per mole (kcal/mol) or kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol).
Refer to table below for Ionization energies of Arsenic
Ionization energy number | Enthalpy - kJ/mol |
---|---|
1st | 947 |
2nd | 1798 |
3rd | 2735 |
4th | 4837 |
5th | 6043 |
6th | 12310 |
Arsenic Physical Properties
Refer to below table for Arsenic Physical Properties
Density | 5.727 g/cm3(when liquid at m.p density is $5.22 g/cm3) |
Molar Volume | 12.95 cm3/mol |
Elastic Properties
Young Modulus | 8 |
Shear Modulus | - |
Bulk Modulus | 22 GPa |
Poisson Ratio | - |
Hardness of Arsenic - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element
Mohs Hardness | 3.5 MPa |
Vickers Hardness | - |
Brinell Hardness | 1440 MPa |
Arsenic Electrical Properties
Electrical resistivity measures element's electrical resistance or how strongly it resists electric current.The SI unit of electrical resistivity is the ohm-metre (Ω⋅m). While Electrical conductivity is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity. It represents a element's ability to conduct electric current. The SI unit of electrical conductivity is siemens per metre (S/m).
Arsenic is a conductor of electricity. Refer to table below for the Electrical properties of Arsenic
Electrical conductors | Conductor |
Electrical Conductivity | 3300000 S/m |
Resistivity | 3e-7 m Ω |
Superconducting Point | - |
Arsenic Heat and Conduction Properties
Thermal Conductivity | 50 W/(m K) |
Thermal Expansion | - |
Arsenic Magnetic Properties
Magnetic Type | Diamagnetic |
Curie Point | - |
Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | -3.9e-9 m3/kg |
Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | -2.92e-10 m3/mol |
Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | -0.0000223 |
Optical Properties of Arsenic
Refractive Index | 1.001552 |
Acoustic Properties of Arsenic
Speed of Sound | - |
Arsenic Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
Refer to table below for Thermal properties of Arsenic
Melting Point | 1090 K(816.85 °C, 1502.330 °F) |
Boiling Point | 887 K(613.85 °C, 1136.930 °F) |
Critical Temperature | - |
Superconducting Point | - |
Enthalpies of Arsenic
Heat of Fusion | 27.7 kJ/mol |
Heat of Vaporization | 32.4 kJ/mol |
Heat of Combustion | - |
Arsenic Isotopes - Nuclear Properties of Arsenic
Arsenic has 33 isotopes, with between 60 and 92 nucleons. Arsenic has 1 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
Isotopes of Arsenic - Naturally occurring stable Isotopes: 75As.
Isotope | Z | N | Isotope Mass | % Abundance | T half | Decay Mode |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60As | 33 | 27 | 60 | Synthetic | ||
61As | 33 | 28 | 61 | Synthetic | ||
62As | 33 | 29 | 62 | Synthetic | ||
63As | 33 | 30 | 63 | Synthetic | ||
64As | 33 | 31 | 64 | Synthetic | ||
65As | 33 | 32 | 65 | Synthetic | ||
66As | 33 | 33 | 66 | Synthetic | ||
67As | 33 | 34 | 67 | Synthetic | ||
68As | 33 | 35 | 68 | Synthetic | ||
69As | 33 | 36 | 69 | Synthetic | ||
70As | 33 | 37 | 70 | Synthetic | ||
71As | 33 | 38 | 71 | Synthetic | ||
72As | 33 | 39 | 72 | Synthetic | ||
73As | 33 | 40 | 73 | Synthetic | ||
74As | 33 | 41 | 74 | Synthetic | ||
75As | 33 | 42 | 75 | 100% | Stable | |
76As | 33 | 43 | 76 | Synthetic | ||
77As | 33 | 44 | 77 | Synthetic | ||
78As | 33 | 45 | 78 | Synthetic | ||
79As | 33 | 46 | 79 | Synthetic | ||
80As | 33 | 47 | 80 | Synthetic | ||
81As | 33 | 48 | 81 | Synthetic | ||
82As | 33 | 49 | 82 | Synthetic | ||
83As | 33 | 50 | 83 | Synthetic | ||
84As | 33 | 51 | 84 | Synthetic | ||
85As | 33 | 52 | 85 | Synthetic | ||
86As | 33 | 53 | 86 | Synthetic | ||
87As | 33 | 54 | 87 | Synthetic | ||
88As | 33 | 55 | 88 | Synthetic | ||
89As | 33 | 56 | 89 | Synthetic | ||
90As | 33 | 57 | 90 | Synthetic | ||
91As | 33 | 58 | 91 | Synthetic | ||
92As | 33 | 59 | 92 | Synthetic |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) identifies hazard class of all dangerous elements/goods/commodities either by its class (or division) number or name. The DOT has divided these materials into nine different categories, known as Hazard Classes.
DOT Numbers | 1558 |
DOT Hazard Class | 6.1 |
NFPA 704 is a Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. NFPA is a standard maintained by the US based National Fire Protection Association.
The health (blue), flammability (red), and reactivity (yellow) rating all use a numbering scale ranging from 0 to 4. A value of zero means that the element poses no hazard; a rating of four indicates extreme danger.
NFPA Fire Rating | 2 | Flash Points Above 37.8°C (100°F) not exceeding 93.3°C (200°F) |
NFPA Health Rating | 3 | Flash Points below 37.8°C (100°F) |
NFPA Reactivity Rating | ||
NFPA Hazards |
Autoignition Point | - |
Flashpoint | - |
Database Search
List of unique identifiers to search the element in various chemical registry databases
Database | Identifier number |
---|---|
CAS Number - Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) | CAS7440-38-2 |
RTECS Number | {N/A, RTECSCG0525000, N/A} |
CID Number | {CID5359596, CID5359596, CID139279} |
Gmelin Number | - |
NSC Number | - |
Compare Arsenic with other elements
Compare Arsenic with Group 15, Period 4 and Metalloid elements of the periodic table.
Compare Arsenic with all Group 15 elements
Compare Arsenic with all Period 4 elements
Compare Arsenic with all Metalloid elements
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Arsenic