Arsenic (As) is an element, which means that it is a chemical that can’t be broken down into simpler chemicals (so it is not a compound or molecule that is made up of other elements). ... Arsenic has an atomic number of 33.
How does arsenic work chemically?
It replaces the stable phosphorus anion in phosphate with the less stable As (V) anion, leading to rapid hydrolysis of high energy bonds in compounds such as ATP. The type of organic arsenic found in certain seafood appears to have low toxicity.
What is the chemical state of arsenic?
Arsenic is a chemical element with symbol As and atomic number 33. Classified as a metalloid, Arsenic is a solid at room temperature .
Is arsenic a chemical?
Arsenic (atomic number, 33; relative atomic mass, 74.92) has chemical and physical properties intermediate between a metal and a non-metal, and is often referred to as a metalloid or semi-metal . It belongs to Group VA of the Periodic Table, and can exist in four oxidation states: –3, 0, +3, and +5.
What does arsenic bond with?
Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment in both organic (arsenic atoms bonded with carbon ) and inorganic (no carbon) forms. Inorganic arsenic, the most abundant type, occurs with many other elements, particularly sulfur, oxygen and chlorine.
How do you remove arsenic from your body?
Treatment involves bowel irrigation, medication, and chelation therapy . It is rare to find dangerous amounts of arsenic in the natural environment. Areas with dangerous arsenic levels are usually well-known and provisions exist to prevent and handle the risk of poisoning.
What does arsenic react to?
Arsenic reacts under controlled conditions with the halogens fluorine , F 2 , chlorine, Cl 2 , bromine, Br 2 , and iodine, I 2 , to form the respective trihalides arsenic(III) fluoride, AsF 3 , arsenic(III) chloride, AsCl 3 , arsenic(III) bromide, AsBr 3 , and arsenic(III) iodide, AsI 3 .
Is arsenic good for anything?
It could play a role in the development of diabetes, cancer, vascular disease and lung disease. The Food and Drug Administration says that long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic is associated with higher rates of skin cancer , bladder cancer and lung cancer, as well as heart disease.
What does arsenic do to humans?
Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking-water and food can cause cancer and skin lesions . It has also been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In utero and early childhood exposure has been linked to negative impacts on cognitive development and increased deaths in young adults.
Do humans need arsenic?
In fact, if arsenic is essential for humans, its recommended daily intake would be little different from selenium, which is so important that evolution incorporated it into the rare amino acid selenocysteine—the crucial component of the antioxidizing selenoproteins that help to repair other proteins from oxidative ...
Can you taste arsenic?
Arsenic has no smell or taste , so you cannot tell if it is in your drinking water. The only way to find out if your well water has high levels of arsenic is to have it tested. HOW CAN ARSENIC AFFECT MY HEALTH?
Are small amounts of arsenic good for you?
People can swallow small amounts of arsenic every day for a long time without any obvious health effects . However, swallowing larger amounts of arsenic may be harmful to health. Swallowing moderate amounts of arsenic every day for many years may cause long-term health effects.
What is arsenic used for today?
Today, organoarsenic compounds are added to poultry feed to prevent disease and improve weight gain. Arsenic is used as a doping agent in semiconductors (gallium arsenide) for solid-state devices. It is also used in bronzing, pyrotechnics and for hardening shot.
How long does arsenic stay in your system?
Both inorganic and organic forms leave your body in your urine. Most of the inorganic arsenic will be gone within several days , although some will remain in your body for several months or even longer. If you are exposed to organic arsenic, most of it will leave your body within several days.
Does boiling water get rid of arsenic?
Heating or boiling your water will not remove arsenic . Because some of the water evaporates during the boiling process, the arsenic concentrations can actually increase slightly as the water is boiled. Additionally, chlorine (bleach) disinfection will not remove arsenic.
What foods are high in arsenic?
The highest levels of arsenic (in all forms) in foods can be found in seafood, rice, rice cereal (and other rice products), mushrooms, and poultry, although many other foods, including some fruit juices, can also contain arsenic.
