Compounds of arsenic resemble in some respects those of phosphorus which occupies the same group (column) of the periodic table. The most common oxidation states for arsenic are: −3 in the arsenides, which are alloy-like intermetallic compounds, +3 in the arsenites, and +5 in the arsenates and most organoarsenic compounds. Arsenic also bonds readily to itself as seen in the square As3− 4 ions in the mineral skutterudite.[1] In the +3 oxidation state, arsenic is typically pyramidal owing to the influence of the lone pair of electrons.[2]
Inorganic compounds
One of the simplest arsenic compound is the trihydride, the highly toxic, flammable, pyrophoricarsine (AsH3). This compound is generally regarded as stable, since at room temperature it decomposes only slowly. At temperatures of 250–300 °C decomposition to arsenic and hydrogen is rapid.[3] Several factors, such as humidity, presence of light and certain catalysts (namely aluminium) facilitate the rate of decomposition.[4] It oxidises readily in air to form arsenic trioxide and water, and analogous reactions take place with sulfur and selenium instead of oxygen.[3]
A broad variety of sulfur compounds of arsenic are known. Orpiment (As2S3) and realgar (As4S4) are somewhat abundant and were formerly used as painting pigments. In As4S10, arsenic has a formal oxidation state of +2 in As4S4 which features As-As bonds so that the total covalency of As is still 3.[6] Both orpiment and realgar, as well as As4S3, have selenium analogs; the analogous As2Te3 is known as the mineral kalgoorlieite,[7] and the anion As2Te− is known as a ligand in cobalt complexes.[8]
All trihalides of arsenic(III) are well known except the astatide, which is unknown. Arsenic pentafluoride (AsF5) is the only important pentahalide, reflecting the lower stability of the +5 oxidation state; even so, it is a very strong fluorinating and oxidizing agent. (The pentachloride is stable only below −50 °C, at which temperature it decomposes to the trichloride, releasing chlorine gas.[9])
A large variety of organoarsenic compounds are known. Several were developed as chemical warfare agents during World War I, including vesicants such as lewisite and vomiting agents such as adamsite.[13][14][15]Cacodylic acid, which is of historic and practical interest, arises from the methylation of arsenic trioxide, a reaction that has no analogy in phosphorus chemistry. Cacodyl was the first organometallic compound known (even though arsenic is not a true metal) and was named from the Greek κακωδία "stink" for its offensive odor; it is very poisonous.[16]
^Holleman, Arnold F.; Wiberg, Egon; Wiberg, Nils (1985). "Arsen". Lehrbuch der Anorganischen Chemie (in German) (91–100 ed.). Walter de Gruyter. pp. 675–681. ISBN978-3-11-007511-3.
^Tanaka, A. (2004). "Toxicity of indium arsenide, gallium arsenide, and aluminium gallium arsenide". Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 198 (3): 405–411. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2003.10.019. PMID15276420.
^Din, M. B.; Gould, R. D. (1998). "High field conduction mechanism of the evaporated cadmium arsenide thin films". ICSE'98. 1998 IEEE International Conference on Semiconductor Electronics. Proceedings (Cat. No.98EX187). pp. 168–174. doi:10.1109/SMELEC.1998.781173. ISBN978-0-7803-4971-1. S2CID110904915.