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

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 (AsO3^3-) is more soluble than arsenate (AsO3^4-) 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.