What is Arsenious Oxide? Properties, Formula, and Class 12 Insights
Arsenic is a metalloid. It has various allotropes, but only the grey form, which has a metallic appearance, is important to the industry. The primary use of arsenic is in alloys of lead (for example, in car batteries and ammunition). Arsenic is a common n-type dopant in semiconductor electronic devices.
Arsenious oxide, commonly known as white arsenic, is obtained as a by-product from the roasting of the ores of copper, lead, and certain other metals as well as by the roasting of arsenopyrite and arsenic sulfide ores.
Arsenious Oxide
Arsenious oxide is an amphoteric oxide. It reacts with both HCl and NaOH. It reacts with sodium hydroxide to form sodium Arsenite (Na3AsO3).
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Reaction of arsenious oxide above image show the reaction of arsenious oxide with sodium hydroxide to form Arsenite
Arsenic Colour
Arsenic is the color of the cyan colour diapason. It belongs to the dull deep sky-blue colour sub diapason. As it was formerly mentioned, Arsenic is a type of cyan colour. Cyan is associated with clarity of thinking, internal attention and focus. Being between blue and green, cyan is associated with sapience and rational thinking, but at the same time, its green aspect makes it warmer and more balanced, not as detached from practical reality as blue is.
Cyan isn't the most featured colour on commercial websites. It's substantially used as a brand colour by certain companies, or as a general element of a design, but is infrequently used for intents related to colour psychology. nonetheless, its variations may be used in the same way as blue- as a part of a natural design, evocative of the skies and the ocean, especially of tropical waters.
It's still important to flashback, still, that the meaning of cyan colour, and therefore also Arsenic, frequently depends on particular associations and preferences. It means that if used creatively, it can be employed for any marketing and imprinting purpose.
White Arsenic
White Arsenic is a chemotherapeutic agent of the idiopathic function used to treat leukaemia that's unresponsive to first-line agents. It's suspected that arsenic trisulfide induces cancer cells to suffer apoptosis. In general, arsenic is known to be a naturally poisonous substance capable of inspiring a variety of dangerous adverse goods. The enzyme thioredoxin reductase has lately been linked as a target for arsenic trioxide.
Arsenic Trioxide is indicated for induction of absolution and connection in cases with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) who are refractory to, or have regressed from, retinoid and anthracycline chemotherapy.
Arsenic Trioxide is indicated for induction of absolution and connection in cases with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) who are refractory to, or have regressed from, retinoid and anthracycline chemotherapy.
Arsenic Liquid
Arsenic (and some arsenic compounds) sublimes on heating at atmospheric pressure, converting directly to a gaseous form without an intervening liquid state at 887 K (614 °C).
Boiling Point (B.P.) of any organic emulsion depends on its molecular weight, if molecular weight increases, B.P. also increases.
Arsenious Oxide Formula
The chemical formula of arsenic oxide is As4O6. The Arsenious oxide (As4O6) patch contains an aggregate of 10 snippet (s). There are 6 Oxygen snippet (s).
The chemical formula of Arsenious oxide (As4O6) is grounded on the molecular formula indicating the figures of each type of snippet in a patch without structural information, which is different from the empirical formula which provides the numerical proportions of titles of each type.
Presence of Trace of Arsenious Oxide
Promoters are substances that enhance the activity of a catalyst while poisons decrease the activity of a catalyst.
In the manufacturing of sulfuric acid, a step involves the reaction of SO2 and O2 in presence of platinized asbestos to give SO3.
\[2S{O_2} + {O_2} \to 2S{O_3}\]
In the above reaction if traces of arsenious oxide (As2O3) is used then it acts as the catalytic poison by reducing the catalytic activity of Platinised asbestos.
Uses of Arsenious Oxide
It is used to kill rats and flies.
Used to make medicines.
It is used to keep animal skins safe.
It is used for making glass and paint.
A variety of applications exploit arsenic's toxicity, including the use of the oxide as a wood preservative.
Interesting Facts
White arsenic is used to treat leukaemia.
Arsenic oxide is very poisonous and used as pesticides.
Key Features of Arsenic Oxide
Arsenic oxide is commonly called as white arsenic.
Arsenic oxide acts as a poisonous catalyst.
Arsenic oxides are amphoteric in nature.
FAQs on Arsenious Oxide: Essential Concepts and Applications
1. What is Arsenious Oxide, and what is its chemical formula?
Arsenious Oxide is an inorganic compound and a key oxide of arsenic. It is a solid, white substance often referred to as 'white arsenic'. The chemical formula for Arsenious Oxide is As₂O₃, indicating it contains two arsenic atoms and three oxygen atoms. It is primarily obtained as a by-product during the smelting of arsenic-containing ores.
2. What are the main industrial uses of Arsenious Oxide?
The primary applications of Arsenious Oxide stem from its chemical properties and toxicity. Its main uses include:
- Glass Manufacturing: It is used as a decolourising and fining agent to remove the green tint caused by iron impurities.
- Wood Preservation: It is a key ingredient in some wood preservatives, like copper arsenates, to protect timber from insects and decay.
- Chemical Synthesis: It serves as a starting material for creating other arsenic compounds, including pesticides and pigments.
- Electronics: High-purity Arsenious Oxide is used in the manufacturing of semiconductors and special types of glass.
3. Is Arsenious Oxide (As₂O₃) acidic or basic?
Arsenious Oxide is an amphoteric oxide, which means it exhibits both acidic and basic properties. While its aqueous solution is weakly acidic due to the formation of arsenious acid (H₃AsO₃), it also reacts with strong acids. This dual reactivity is a key characteristic of metalloid oxides.
4. How is Arsenious Oxide typically prepared?
Arsenious Oxide is most commonly prepared by roasting arsenic-containing minerals in the presence of air (oxygen). For example, when arsenopyrite (FeAsS) is roasted, it oxidises to form iron(III) oxide, sulphur dioxide, and Arsenious Oxide, which is collected as a volatile powder. The simplified reaction is: 2 FeAsS(s) + 5 O₂(g) → Fe₂O₃(s) + 2 SO₂(g) + As₂O₃(s).
5. What is the difference between elemental Arsenic and the term 'Arsenious'?
The key difference lies in what they describe:
- Elemental Arsenic (As) refers to the chemical element itself, a metalloid with atomic number 33.
- The term 'Arsenious' describes a specific oxidation state of arsenic, which is +3. Therefore, Arsenious Oxide (As₂O₃) is a compound where arsenic has a +3 charge. This is different from 'arsenic' compounds like arsenic pentoxide (As₂O₅), where arsenic is in the +5 oxidation state.
6. Why is Arsenious Oxide considered amphoteric? Explain with examples.
Arsenious Oxide's amphoteric nature is demonstrated by its ability to react with both strong bases and strong acids.
- As an acid: It reacts with strong alkalis like sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to form arsenites. For example: As₂O₃ + 6 NaOH → 2 Na₃AsO₃ + 3 H₂O.
- As a base: It reacts with concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl) to form arsenic trichloride (AsCl₃). For example: As₂O₃ + 6 HCl → 2 AsCl₃ + 3 H₂O.
7. How is Arsenious Oxide used to prepare Arsenious Sulphide?
Arsenious Oxide is the precursor for preparing a colloidal solution of Arsenious Sulphide (As₂S₃). The process involves two main steps: first, a small amount of Arsenious Oxide is dissolved in boiling distilled water to form a dilute solution of arsenious acid. Second, hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) gas is passed through this solution, causing a double displacement reaction that results in the formation of a bright yellow, lyophobic sol of Arsenious Sulphide. You can learn more about the detailed procedure in the Synthesis of Arsenious Sulphide [As2S3] Solution.
8. What makes Arsenious Oxide highly toxic?
The toxicity of Arsenious Oxide arises from its ability to interfere with cellular processes, particularly cellular respiration. The arsenite ion (AsO₃³⁻), formed from Arsenious Oxide, has a high affinity for sulfhydryl groups (-SH) found in many essential enzymes. By binding to these enzymes, it disrupts their function, leading to a shutdown of metabolic pathways and ultimately causing cell death. This potent mechanism is why it is effective as a poison but also extremely hazardous.
