Arsenic - Periodic Table of Videos

Summary

This video script delves into the intriguing chemistry of arsenic, a historically notorious poison. It describes the sublimation of arsenic, the creation of arsenic oxide, and the infamous arsenic mirror. The script recounts tragic poisoning incidents, including the Bradford sweets case and a lawyer's arsenic-laced cake. It also explains Marsh's test for arsenic detection and touches on arsenic's presence in 19th-century wallpapers and its potential role in Napoleon's death. The narrative concludes with a tale of an arsenic-related explosion and the discovery of arsenic sulfide in nature.

Takeaways

• 🐍 The chemistry of arsenic is discussed, highlighting its poisonous nature and historical use in murders.
• 🔬 Arsenic's unique property of sublimation is demonstrated, where it turns into vapor upon heating and forms a metallic film on the vessel's sides, known as an arsenic mirror.
• 📚 Arsenic oxide (As2O3) is infamous for its use as a poison, often mixed with sugar due to its sweet taste and white appearance.
• 🧪 An experiment to create arsenic oxide is described, involving dissolving arsenic in dilute nitric acid, resulting in a brownish fume due to the formation of nitrogen dioxide.
• 🔮 The script recounts a tragic incident in Bradford, 1858, where arsenic poisoning led to the death of over twenty people due to its accidental inclusion in sweets.
• ⚖️ Another poisoning case from the 1920s is mentioned, where a lawyer is believed to have used arsenic to kill his wife and a business rival.
• 🔥 The Marsh test for detecting arsenic is described, involving a reaction with zinc and sulfuric acid, producing a lavender flame and a deposit of arsenic on a cold surface.
• 🏠 The dangers of arsenic poisoning from the green pigment 'Scheele's green' used in wallpapers in the 19th century are discussed, which could release arsenic gas in damp conditions.
• 🤔 The script raises the question of whether Napoleon Bonaparte was poisoned by arsenic, possibly from mold on his wallpaper, as arsenic was found in his hair.
• 🧪 An unusual experiment by Bruce Wilde and Paul Gauguin is mentioned, where mold was used to convert a non-volatile arsenic compound into a volatile one, resulting in a new chemical complex.
• 💥 A dramatic story of an explosion during an experiment with liquid fluorine and arsenic is shared, emphasizing the potential dangers of handling arsenic.

Q & A

What is the chemical property of arsenic that makes it fascinating?

Arsenic is fascinating due to its ability to sublime when heated, forming a vapor that condenses on the side of the vessel to create a metallic film, often referred to as an arsenic mirror.

Why is arsenic historically known as a poison?

Arsenic is historically known as a poison because it has been used to carry out murders, often in the form of arsenic oxide, which is a white powder that can be mixed with food and is difficult to detect.

What was the outcome of the experiment to create arsenic oxide in the script?

The experiment to create arsenic oxide resulted in a sticky brown solid instead of the expected white powder, likely due to the presence of arsenic particles.

What is the significance of the Bradford sweets incident in 1858?

The Bradford sweets incident in 1858, where over twenty people died and more than 200 were ill due to arsenic poisoning from sweets adulterated with arsenic oxide, led to greater control of arsenic in the United Kingdom.

How was arsenic poisoning detected in historical cases?

In historical cases, arsenic poisoning was detected using Marsh's test, which involves a chemical reaction that produces a volatile compound called Arsene, identifiable by a lavender flame.

What is the connection between arsenic and the wallpaper of the 19th century?

In the 19th century, a green pigment called Scheele's green, which contains arsenic, was used in wallpaper. The mold that grew on the wallpaper could produce a gas containing arsenic, which was poisonous.

What was the hypothesis regarding Napoleon Bonaparte's death and arsenic?

There was a hypothesis that Napoleon Bonaparte was poisoned with arsenic, possibly due to the mold on the green arsenic-containing wallpaper in his house on the island of St. Helena.

What experiment did Bruce Wilde and Paul Gauguin conduct involving arsenic and mold?

Bruce Wilde and Paul Gauguin conducted an experiment where they injected bread with a non-volatile arsenic compound, allowed mold to grow on it, and then collected the volatile arsenic gas produced by the mold, which they used to create a new complex.

What is the significance of the arsenic sulfide mineral realgar?

Realgar, an arsenic sulfide mineral with bright red crystals, is significant because it likely contributed to the historical knowledge of arsenic compounds due to its distinctive color and appearance.

What happened during Mike's experiment with liquid fluorine and arsenic?

During Mike's experiment with liquid fluorine and arsenic, there was an enormous explosion due to a reaction gone wrong, leaving only the plastic top of the thermos flask and scattering the rest of the apparatus around the lab.

What is the historical significance of Albertus Magnus in relation to arsenic?

Albertus Magnus, a German Bishop, is said to have discovered arsenic. He is significant in Cologne, where current PhD students touch his statue's thumb for good luck upon graduation.