Re: Elemental Arsenic Sources?

On Apr 27, 9:13 am, parlous2...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
i would like to use elemental arsenic in an experiment but am
dissatisfied with the sources of arsenic found online. not terribly
interested in having such a dangerous chemical travel through the mail
anyways, out of my control.

Most places won't ship it anyway, unless you're a bona fide company
with an established account.

In spite of setting off a knee-jerk response in people, arsenic(0),
the element, is not very toxic. Native arsenic occurs naturally in
some places in the world, including the Alps. Some locals chew on it,
claiming it improves their health. The pure element looks like fool's
gold, silvery clustered crystals.

By contrast, arsenic(III) is toxic in a very unpleasant way, and
arsenic(V) less so. AsH3 is exquisitely poisonous.

I made an arsenic electrode once by sticking a crystal to the end of a
stainless steel rod with conductive epoxy, and then dunking the whole
rod in alkali-resistant epoxy. I sanded off just the epoxy at the tip
to expose the arsenic. This electrode would quantitatively generate
low-ppm levels of arsine gas in a normal NaOH electrolyte, using a
coulometer.

Dangerous Bill



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