Arsenic
(information)
Here’s a structured breakdown of the **20 most common uses of Arsenic**, grouped by sector with approximate global consumption shares: --- ## 📊 Global Arsenic Uses by Sector --- ### **1–5: Metallurgy & Alloys (~40–45%)** 1. **Lead Alloys (Lead–Arsenic)** – Strengthens lead for batteries, ammunition. 2. **Copper Alloys (Arsenical Bronze)** – Increases hardness and corrosion resistance. 3. **Shot & Ammunition** – Prevents deformation of lead bullets and pellets. 4. **Battery Grids (Lead-Acid)** – Improves durability of lead-acid batteries. 5. **Specialty Metals** – Used in high-strength alloys for aerospace and defense. --- ### **6–10: Electronics & Semiconductors (~20–25%)** 6. **Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) Semiconductors** – High-speed electronics, RF chips. 7. **Infrared Optoelectronics** – GaAs lasers, LEDs, and sensors. 8. **Solar Cells (GaAs)** – High-efficiency photovoltaics, esp. for space satellites. 9. **5G & Telecommunications** – GaAs RF amplifiers and signal processors. 10. **Radar & Military Electronics** – GaAs chips in defense systems. --- ### **11–15: Agriculture & Wood Preservation (~15%)** 11. **Wood Preservatives (CCA – Chromated Copper Arsenate)** – Pressure-treated lumber (now restricted in many countries). 12. **Insecticides & Pesticides** – Historically common, now banned/restricted. 13. **Herbicides & Fungicides** – Used in cotton and orchards (mostly phased out). 14. **Rodenticides** – Formerly used for pest control. 15. **Soil Additives** – Historically to boost crop yields (mostly discontinued due to toxicity). --- ### **16–20: Glass, Chemicals & Specialty (~15–20%)** 16. **Glass Manufacturing** – Arsenic trioxide clarifies and removes bubbles. 17. **Ceramics & Enamels** – Adds opacity and smoothness. 18. **Pigments & Dyes** – Historical use in paints, wallpapers (e.g., Scheele’s Green). 19. **Pharmaceuticals (Historic/Research)** – Fowler’s solution (tonic), Salvarsan (syphilis drug). 20. **Forensic & Research Applications** – Reference standard in toxicology studies. --- ## 💡 **Summary of Approximate Shares by Sector** | Sector | % of Global Arsenic Use | | ------------------------------- | ----------------------- | | Metallurgy & Alloys | 40–45% | | Electronics & Semiconductors | 20–25% | | Agriculture & Wood Preservation | ~15% | | Glass, Chemicals & Specialty | 15–20% | --- ✅ **Bottom line:** Arsenic is **no longer widely used in agriculture** due to its toxicity, but remains **essential in metallurgy (~40%) and semiconductors (~25%)**. The rest goes into glassmaking, specialty chemicals, and legacy uses. Would you like me to also do a **“then vs now” comparison chart** of arsenic uses (historic vs modern), since many older uses (like pigments and medicine) are largely discontinued? Perfect 👍 Here’s a **“Then vs Now” comparison** of **Arsenic uses**, showing how its role has shifted from common **agricultural, medical, and consumer uses** in the past to mainly **metallurgy and high-tech semiconductors** today: --- # 🧪 Arsenic Uses: Then vs Now --- ## **Historic (Pre-20th Century → Mid-20th Century)** * **Agriculture & Pest Control (~40%)** 1. Insecticides (cotton, orchards, vineyards). 2. Herbicides & fungicides. 3. Rodenticides & poisons. 4. Soil additives (to boost crops). 5. Livestock treatments. * **Consumer Products (~30%)** 6. Pigments in paints & wallpapers (Scheele’s Green, Paris Green). 7. Ceramics & glass coloring. 8. Dyes & cosmetics (even used in Victorian “complexion powders”). 9. Preservatives in wood & leather. 10. Soap & household disinfectants. * **Medicine & Chemistry (~20%)** 11. Fowler’s solution (tonic for ailments). 12. Salvarsan (early syphilis treatment). 13. Cancer treatments (experimental). 14. Veterinary medicine. 15. General tonics & patent medicines. * **Metallurgy & Industry (~10%)** 16. Alloys with copper & lead. 17. Bullets & ammunition hardening. 18. Clarifying glass & enamels. 19. Poison in warfare (notably in antiquity). 20. Laboratory & alchemical uses. --- ## **Modern (21st Century)** * **Metallurgy & Alloys (~40–45%)** * Lead alloys for batteries, ammunition, and grid plates. * Copper alloys (arsenical bronze). * **Electronics & Semiconductors (~20–25%)** * Gallium arsenide (GaAs) chips in RF, 5G, satellites. * Solar cells & infrared optoelectronics. * **Glass & Industrial Chemicals (~15–20%)** * Arsenic trioxide in glass clarifying. * Ceramics, enamels, and specialty chemicals. * **Agriculture & Preservatives (~15%)** * CCA-treated wood (restricted but still used in some regions). * Some limited pesticide/herbicide applications in developing countries. * **Medicine & Research (<5%)** * Arsenic trioxide for leukemia treatment (niche but important). * Forensic/toxicology standards. --- ## 📊 **Shift in Use (Then → Now)** | Sector | Historic Share | Modern Share | | --------------------- | -------------- | ------------------------ | | Agriculture & Pest | ~40% | ~15% (restricted) | | Consumer Products | ~30% | <1% (discontinued) | | Medicine & Chemistry | ~20% | <5% (targeted therapies) | | Metallurgy & Industry | ~10% | ~40–45% | | Electronics | <1% | ~20–25% | --- ✅ **Key Takeaway:** * **Then:** Arsenic was everywhere — pesticides, pigments, cosmetics, and even medicine. * **Now:** Its use has narrowed to **metallurgy, semiconductors, and niche medicine**, while most consumer and agricultural uses have been **phased out due to toxicity**. --- Would you like me to make a **side-by-side pie chart visualization** (Historic vs Modern arsenic uses) so you can **see the shift at a glance**?Known Methods of Extraction
Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Arsenic (As, atomic number 33).** Arsenic is a **metalloid** that rarely occurs free in nature. It is primarily found in **arsenopyrite (FeAsS)**, **realgar (As₄S₄)**, and **orpiment (As₂S₃)**. Industrial extraction usually involves **roasting or sublimation** to obtain elemental arsenic or arsenic trioxide. Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Arsenic**: --- # **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Arsenic** ### **A. Industrial / Large-Scale Methods** 1. **Roasting of Arsenopyrite (FeAsS + O₂ → FeO + As₂O₃ + SO₂)** – Produces arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃). 2. **Sublimation of Arsenic Trioxide (As₂O₃ → As vapour → As solid)** – Produces metallic arsenic. 3. **Direct Sublimation of Native Arsenic** – Rare natural source, lab or specialty method. 4. **Oxidative Roasting of Realgar (As₄S₄ + O₂ → As₂O₃ + SO₂)** – Converts sulfide to oxide. 5. **Oxidative Roasting of Orpiment (As₂S₃ + O₂ → As₂O₃ + SO₂)** – Industrial arsenic oxide production. 6. **Reduction of As₂O₃ with Carbon (Carbothermic)** – Produces elemental arsenic. --- ### **B. Hydrometallurgical Methods** 7. **Leaching Arsenic Oxide with NaOH or KOH** – Produces soluble arsenate (Na₃AsO₃ / Na₃AsO₄). 8. **Precipitation of Arsenic Compounds from Leach Solution** – Intermediate for metallic arsenic. 9. **Electrolytic Reduction of Arsenic Salts** – Lab-scale method. 10. **Reduction of Arsenic Chloride (AsCl₃) with Metals (Zn/Al)** – Laboratory preparation of elemental As. 11. **Reduction of Arsenic Oxides with Hydrogen Gas** – Laboratory or small-scale production. --- ### **C. Extraction from Byproducts / Residues** 12. **Recovery from Copper Smelting Slags** – Hydrometallurgical leaching and precipitation. 13. **Recovery from Lead and Gold Refining Residues** – Arsenic present as minor byproduct. 14. **Recovery from Roaster Dust in Sulfide Ore Processing** – Collect As₂O₃ from flue gases. 15. **Extraction from Contaminated Soil or Mining Tailings** – Acid leaching → precipitation. 16. **Recovery from Electronic Waste** – Hydrometallurgical methods, rare but possible. --- ### **D. Laboratory / Experimental Methods** 17. **Aluminothermic Reduction of As₂O₃** – Produces metallic arsenic. 18. **Magnesiothermic Reduction of Arsenic Oxides** – Lab or research method. 19. **Plasma Reduction of Arsenic Compounds** – Experimental method for high-purity As. 20. **Solar-Thermal Reduction of As₂O₃** – Experimental renewable energy method. --- ✅ **Summary:** * **Main industrial method:** Roasting arsenic-containing sulfides → sublimation to produce As₂O₃ → reduction to metallic arsenic. * **Metallic arsenic:** Produced via sublimation, carbothermic, hydrogen, or aluminothermic reduction. * **Byproduct sources:** Copper, lead, gold smelting residues, roaster dust. * **Laboratory/experimental:** Mg/Al reduction, plasma, solar-thermal. * **Hydrometallurgical methods:** Leaching with alkali, precipitation, electrolytic reduction. --- Next in periodic order is **Selenium (Se, atomic number 34).** Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Selenium**?
