9 Arsenic Uses in Different Industries (Need To Know Facts!)

by

Arsenic is a pnictogen element of group 15 in the periodic table having a molar mass of 74.92 u. let us focus on the uses of arsenic in different industries.

Arsenic is used in the following industries which are listed below –

  • Agriculture
  • Alloys
  • Military
  • Electronics
  • Biochemistry
  • Ceramic and pigments
  • Wood preservative
  • Metal industry
  • Semiconductor
  • Biomethylation

Wood preservative

  • Inorganic arsenic is an active component of chromate copper arsenate, an antifungal wood preservative used to make “pressure-created” wood for outdoor applications.
  • Chromated copper arsenate is no longer used in residential applications, but sodium arsenate is a better utility for wood preservation.

Agriculture

  • In the agricultural industry, arsenic has historically been used in a range of applications, including pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, cotton desiccants, defoliants, and soil sterilants.
  • Monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA), a broadleaf weed herbicide, will continue to be approved for use on cotton.
  • Small amounts of disodium methanearsonate (DSMA, or cacodylic acid) were historically applied to cotton fields as herbicides.
  • Calcium arsenate is used to Control boll weevils in cotton fields Component in snail baits; used in fly control in poultry houses, and herbicide for grass Poa annua.
  • Lead arsenate Control codling moth, plum curculio, cabbage bug, potato bug. 10,10-0xybisphenoxarsine is used for Fungus control in cotton sail-cloth and vinyl films.

Alloys

  • Arsenic and arsenic compounds are used for a variety of other industrial purposes.
  • Elemental arsenic is used in the manufacture of alloys, particularly with lead (e.g. in lead acid batteries) and copper.
  • To increase the ductility of brass (Cu and Zn alloy) arsenic is used.
  • Arsenic is added in small quantities to alpha-brass to make it dezincification-resistant. This grade of brass is used in plumbing fittings and other wet environments.
  • An alloy with Ga in integrated circuits and laser materials to convert electricity directly into coherent light

Metal industry

  • Arsenic is also used to remove impurities (particularly Fe) so that clear glass is produced, to make rounder lead shots, and to harden and increase the durability of plates.
  • Arsenic is also used as posts in lead acid batteries, and to produce color in fireworks.
  • Arsenic is also used for the preparation of bronzing (bronzed-like surface on material).

Electronics

  • Gallium arsenide and arsine are widely used in the semiconductor and electronics industries.
  • Because of its high electron mobility, as well as light-emitting, electromagnetic and photovoltaic properties, gallium arsenide is used in high-speed semiconductor devices.
  • High-power microwave and millimeter-wave devices, and optoelectronic devices, including fiber-optic sources and detectors.

Semiconductor

  • Arsine is used as a doping agent to manufacture crystals for computer chips and fiber optics.
  • Circuits made from GaAs are much faster (but also much more expensive) than those made from silicon.
  • Unlike silicon, GaAs has a direct bandgap and can be used in laser diodes and LEDs to convert electrical energy directly into light.
  • In computers; arsenic is used in the chips as the n-type doping.

Biochemistry

  • The biogeochemistry of arsenic is complex and includes various adsorption and desorption processes.
  • Arsenic is connected to its solubility and is affected by pH. Arsenite (AsO33-) is more soluble than arsenate (AsO34-) however, at a lower pH, arsenate becomes more mobile.
  • It was found that the addition of sulfur, phosphorus, and iron oxides to high-arsenite soils greatly reduces arsenic solubility.
  • Carbarsone and nitarsone (4- nitro phenyl arsonic acid) is applied for the Antihistomonads in turkeys. 
  • Lead and calcium arsenate control acidity in grapefruit.

Ceramic and pigments

  • Arsenic was used as an opacifier in ceramics, creating white glazes. Copper acetoarsenite was used as a green pigment known under many names, including Paris Green and Emerald Green.
  • Scheele’s Green, a copper arsenate, was used in the 19th century as a coloring agent in sweets.
  • Arsenic was used in optical glass. Modern glass manufacturers, under pressure from environmentalists, have ceased using both arsenic and lead.
  • They are also used in catalysts, pyrotechnics, antifouling agents in paints, pharmaceutical substances, dyes and soaps, ceramics, alloys (automotive solder and radiators), and electrophotography.

Military

  • In 1925, the united states used arsenic-based lewisite (ClCH=CHAsCl2) and organoarsenic vesicant (blister agent), and lung irritants.
  • The United States used Agent Blue, a mixture of sodium cacodylate and its acid form, as one of the rainbow herbicides to deprive North Vietnamese soldiers of foliage cover and rice.

Biomethylation

  • Inorganic arsenic and its compounds are used for biomethylation upon entering the food chain and are progressively metabolized through a process of methylation.
  • The organic compound arsenobetaine is found in some marine foods such as fish and algae, and also in mushrooms in larger concentrations.

Conclusion

Arsenic is a pnictogen metalloid element present in the group VA. The organometallic compound of arsenic is well stabilized by the π- acceptor ligand and has greater crystal field stabilization energy.