Arsenic (As)
Arsenic is a notorious poison historically called "the king of poisons." It is a metalloid with both metallic and non-metallic properties.
Properties of Arsenic
- Atomic number
- 33
- Category
- Metalloid
- Atomic mass
- 74.922 u
- Electron configuration
- [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p³
- Melting point
- 1090 K (816.85 °C)
- Boiling point
- 887 K (613.85 °C)
- Density
- 5.776 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.18
- Appearance
- Metallic gray solid
- Discovered by
- Albertus Magnus (1250)
Facts about Arsenic
- Arsenic was called "the king of poisons" because it was once a favorite of assassins!
- Arsenic was used in green wallpaper dye in Victorian times — sometimes making people sick!
- Napoleon may have been slowly poisoned by arsenic in his wallpaper!
- In tiny amounts, arsenic is actually used in some medicines!