Arsenic is a metalloid found along with sulfur deposits. Let us see whether arsenic is malleable, ductile, and brittle, with every detail.
Arsenic is not malleable or ductile as it does not hold the property of elastic deformation and cannot be stretched into thin wire. Well, arsenic is brittle having a density of 5.727 g/cm3 and hardness of 3.5 on Moh’s scale. It has a rhombohedral cubic structure that makes it brittle.
Arsenic is a good conductor of electricity and heat due to the presence of three valence electrons in its outer orbital hence it is used as an n-type semiconductor in some electronic devices. We shall further discuss whether arsenic is brittle and the facts behind it in detail.
Is arsenic brittle?
A matter is said to be brittle if it is very hard but liable to develop a fracture and break easily. Let us see whether arsenic is brittle or not.
Arsenic is brittle because of its rhombohedral structure and is hard and compact. It is highly reactive in the atmosphere. It has a modulus of elasticity of 8 GPa and hardness is around 1440 MPa and breaks without showing plastic deformation. There are few allotropes of As, among which grey arsenic is the most brittle.
Why arsenic is not malleable?
Most of the metals are malleable and the malleability increases with temperature until it attains the liquid state. Let us understand why arsenic is not malleable.
Arsenic is not malleable because it breaks upon exerting high pressure and does not bend without developing fractures in its atomic structure. The malleable metal does not break on hammering or deforming into any shape. It is not a flexible or elastic metal although pure arsenic is soft and hence directly breaks.
Why arsenic is not ductile?
Ductile metals are usually malleable and hence can be drawn into thin wires. Let us see why arsenic is not ductile.
Arsenic is not ductile because it is not malleable and cannot be stretched and elongated as it breaks easily due to its brittleness. The melting point of arsenic is 816.8 degrees Celsius having a thermal coefficient of expansion of around 5.6 × 10-6 m/mK.
Conclusion
We can conclude from this article that arsenic is not malleable or ductile but is brittle. It is a rhombohedral, hard, and compact structure and does not hold the property of plastic deformation and hence breaks easily when stretched or applied deformation force due to its brittleness.
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Hi, I’m Akshita Mapari. I have done M.Sc. in Physics. I have worked on projects like Numerical modeling of winds and waves during cyclone, Physics of toys and mechanized thrill machines in amusement park based on Classical Mechanics. I have pursued a course on Arduino and have accomplished some mini projects on Arduino UNO. I always like to explore new zones in the field of science. I personally believe that learning is more enthusiastic when learnt with creativity. Apart from this, I like to read, travel, strumming on guitar, identifying rocks and strata, photography and playing chess.
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