Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 57

=a.r.s.eNIOUS ACID.= See a.r.s.eNIOUS ANHYDRIDE.

=a.r.s.e"NIOUS ANHYDRIDE.= As_{2}O_{3}. _Syn._ AR'SENIOUS ACID, AR'SENIC, WHITE A.; ACIDE a.r.s.eNIEUX, a.r.s.eNIC BLANC, OXYDE, Fr.; a.r.s.eNIGSaURE, a.r.s.eNICHSTE S., Ger.; a.r.s.eNICO BIANCO, It.; A. BLANCO, Sp. The a.r.s.enic, or white a.r.s.enic, of the shops.

_Sources._ The white a.r.s.enic of commerce is princ.i.p.ally imported from Germany, where it is obtained in the process of roasting a.r.s.eniuretted cobalt ores, in making zaffre. At Altenburgh it is procured from a.r.s.enical iron pyrites (mispickel); and at Reichenstein from native a.r.s.enide of iron. About 900 to 1000 tons are also annually collected at Cornwall, being princ.i.p.ally a secondary product of the process of roasting grey copper ore and white mundic. The British a.r.s.enic works in that county are perhaps the finest in the world. The usual plan is to roast the powdered ore in m.u.f.fle-furnaces; by which its a.r.s.enic is converted into a.r.s.enious anhydride, which escapes as vapour (smelting-house smoke), and pa.s.sing into the condensing-chambers, is deposited in a pulverulent state, forming the flowers of a.r.s.enic, or rough white a.r.s.enic, of the smelters, (the giftmehl or poison-flour of the Germans). The crude article obtained in this way is purified by re-sublimation in suitable iron pots or other iron vessels, before it is fit for sale. It then forms a semi-transparent vitreous cake, which gradually becomes opaque, and of snowy whiteness, by exposure to the air, and at length acquires a more or less pulverulent state on the surface.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

In Silesia the crude a.r.s.enious anhydride obtained from a.r.s.enical pyrites is refined by sublimation as follows:--For this purpose the cast-iron vessels (_a_) are employed. Upon these are placed iron rings or collars (_b_, _c_, _d_) and a hood (_e_), communicating by means of tubes with a series of chambers, of which the first only is shown in _i_. The f.l.a.n.g.es of the cast-iron collars and all other joints having been thoroughly luted, the fire is lighted and the heat so increased as to cause the semi-fusion of the a.r.s.enious anhydride, which, after cooling, exhibits a peculiarly porcelain-like appearance, at first being as transparent as gla.s.s.

_Prop._ Crystals (obtained by careful sublimation, or by cooling a boiling aqueous solution), usually transparent, regular octahedrons (fig. 1), but sometimes, though rarely, a.s.sume the form of tetrahedrons (see 2). When prepared on the large scale it forms large, gla.s.sy, colourless or yellowish-white, transparent or semi-transparent cakes or porcelain-like ma.s.ses (vitreous a.r.s.enious anhydride, glacial a. a.), which soon becomes opaque on their exterior, and often friable and pulverulent; odourless; volatilises at 380 Fahr.; fumes odourless, unless carbonaceous organic matter be present, when they smell strongly like garlic; heated under pressure it liquefies and forms a transparent gla.s.s; taste faintly sweetish, with a slight acidity and astringency, not perceived until some minutes after being swallowed. The opaque variety is soluble in 80 parts of water at 59 Fahr., and 772 parts of boiling water; but on cooling to 60, only about one third of this quant.i.ty continues in solution. The transparent variety is soluble in 103 parts of water at 59, and 93 parts of boiling water. Both soluble in alcohol, syrups, oils, and spirits, and freely so in alkaline lyes and hydrochloric acid; organic matter generally impedes its solution; solutions redden litmus; heated with organic matter it is reduced to the metallic state. Sp. gr. 35 (lowest opaque var.) to 38 (highest transp. var.).

[Ill.u.s.tration]

=a.r.s.enites.= True a.r.s.enious acid (HAsO_{2}) has never been obtained in a satisfactory condition, but its salts are readily obtained by dissolving a.r.s.enious anhydride in a solution of the base, or by double decomposition.

They are generally white, nearly all insoluble, except those of the alkalies, and all soluble in acids.

_Tests, Detec., &c._ Owing to the importance of the subject, and for convenience and facility of reference, the leading tests for the a.r.s.enites and a.r.s.enious anhydride are noticed alphabetically below; to which a few general remarks on their application, under the various circ.u.mstances that occur to the chemist and toxicologist, are appended. When not otherwise stated, it is to be understood that they are to be applied to pure, or nearly pure and colourless solutions of a.r.s.enious acid or the a.r.s.enites.

_Ammonio-nitrate of silver_ gives a well-marked yellow precipitate of a.r.s.enite of silver in an aqueous or a.r.s.enious anhydride solution which is soluble in ammonia and in dilute nitric acid.

_Crystallisation Test._--A very minute quant.i.ty of a.r.s.enious acid placed in a small tube (a.r.s.enic-tube), and heated in the flame of a spirit lamp, gives a crystalline sublimate, which collects on the cooler portion of the tube, and which, when examined by a pocket lens, is found to consist of sparkling octahedral crystals (see _engr._)

[Ill.u.s.tration: (Magnified.)]

_Ellis's Test._--This is a modification of the 'nascent hydrogen test,' in which the suspected gas is pa.s.sed through a tube containing slips of copper leaf or riband, or still better pure oxide of copper, gently heated; the end of the tube communicating with the atmosphere being drawn to a capillary size, at which the gas may be inflamed and tested, as in 'Marsh's Apparatus.' (See _engr._) If a.r.s.enic be abundant in the gas, the copper will be almost instantly covered over with a coating of metallic a.r.s.enic; and after continuing the heat for a few minutes it will present a beautiful silvery surface, and may then be submitted to further examination.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

_a_, Flask containing the suspected fluid, dilute sulphuric acid, and zinc.

_b_, Funnel.

_c_, Tube containing the copper-leaf or c.-riband, and heated by the lamp _d_.

_e_, Support.

_f_, Capillary end of tube _c_, with the gas inflamed.]

_La.s.saigne's Test._ (Adopted by the French Academy.) This consists in pa.s.sing the gas generated in the suspected liquid, through a solution of nitrate of silver. (See _engr._) When a.r.s.enic is present black flocculi of metallic silver are deposited, and a.r.s.enious acid remains in solution mixed with nitric acid and some a.r.s.enide of silver. The filtered liquor, treated with ammonia, will now give a characteristic yellow precipitate of a.r.s.enite of silver; or a little dilute hydrochloric acid may be cautiously added to precipitate any remaining nitrate of silver, and the liquid, after filtration, tested for a.r.s.enic either in a Marsh's apparatus, or with any of the liquid tests; or it may be evaporated to dryness, when its a.r.s.enious acid will be converted into a.r.s.enic acid by the nitric acid present, and will then be found to give the usual brick-red precipitate of a.r.s.eniate of silver with a solution of the nitrate of that metal. See MARSH'S TEST.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

_a_, Bottle containing dilute sulphuric acid, zinc, and suspected fluid.

_b_, Funnel for supplying the bottle with acid.

_c_, _c_, Supports.

_d_, Tube filled with asbestos.

_e_, Bent tube to convey the liberated gas.

_f_, Gla.s.s vessel containing a solution of nitrate of silver.]

_Marsh's Test._ Some of the suspected liquid is mixed with dilute sulphuric acid until strongly acid, and is then poured upon some pure granulated zinc, or clippings or other small pieces of zinc, previously placed in the apparatus; hydrogen gas is immediately evolved, and, if a.r.s.enic be present, unites with it, forming a.r.s.eniuretted hydrogen gas, which escapes by the aperture _b_ (see _engr._), and may be recognised as follows:--

It possesses a garlic-like odour.

It burns with a bluish-white flame and emits a whitish smoke.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

_a_, _a_, Bent gla.s.s tube, containing dilute sulphuric acid, zinc, and suspected liquid.

_b_, Stop-c.o.c.k and jet.

_c_, Plate of gla.s.s to receive the stain.

_d_, Support.

_e_, _e_, Bands to keep the tube upright.]

If a piece of window-gla.s.s, or a white porcelain plate or saucer, be held a short distance above the flame, a fine pulverulent film of a.r.s.enious acid is deposited on it. See (fig.) _above_.

If the cold plate be held in the flame, so as to slightly impede the combustion of the gas, a blackish-brown deposit of metallic a.r.s.enic is obtained, more or less deep, brilliant, and glistening. Both these deposits may be obtained simultaneously by holding nearly vertically over the flame a gla.s.s tube about 8 or 10 inches long and 3/8ths of an inch in diameter. See (fig.) _above_.

A solution of a.r.s.enious acid may be obtained by letting the flame play upon 3 or 4 drops of water placed on the under side of the piece of gla.s.s or china, to which the liquid tests may be then applied. Another plan is to apply drops of the liquid tests to the plate as above, and to let the flame play on them successively.

The true a.r.s.enical spot or film is of a blackish-brown colour, and generally of a very deep hair-brown, usually surrounded at the circ.u.mference, with a white film of a.r.s.enious acid; whilst that of antimony, which in some points is similar, is of a deep black colour, and but feebly l.u.s.trous, and, when viewed by transmitted light, appears smoky black; whereas an a.r.s.enical spot viewed in the same way appears brown. It is further distinguished from others by--Treated with concentrated nitric acid, it instantly disappears, leaving upon the surface of the liquid traces of the metal, which only dissolve on the application of heat. This solution, gently and carefully heated, leaves a white residuum, which, when cold, gives with a concentrated solution of nitrate of silver a dull-red precipitate of a.r.s.eniate of silver.--The nitric solution treated with a few drops of sulphurous acid, and subsequently with sulphuretted hydrogen, gives a canary-yellow precipitate of trisulphide of a.r.s.enic, which readily redissolves, forming a colourless solution with ammonia.--The a.r.s.enical spot, when heated, is turned bright yellow by sulphuretted hydrogen, and is then readily dissolved, as before, by ammonia, and by its bicarbonate; whereas one of antimony is turned of a deep orange-red, or reddish-brown, by sulphuretted hydrogen, is not readily dissolved by ammonia, and is scarcely or not at all affected by bicarbonate of ammonia.--It is freely soluble in and removed by hypochlorite of soda; a reagent which does not affect antimonial spots.

Heated by a flame of pure hydrogen an a.r.s.enical stain rapidly disappears.

A mixed stain of antimony and a.r.s.enic does not disappear by the action of the last two reagents, and is shown to contain a.r.s.enic by the two first tests above. When hydrochloric acid is present zinc stains are sometimes formed, but they do not resemble those from a.r.s.enic. The flame which produces it is very pale blue or bluish-white; whereas antimoniuretted hydrogen burns with a pale green or greenish-yellow flame, and a white smoke, both of which are characteristic.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_Obs._ Marsh's test is admirable for its simplicity, delicacy, and trustworthiness, as well as for the ease of its application. It is adapted to all liquids, whether colourless or coloured, which are not so glutinous as to inconveniently froth during the extrication of the hydrogen.[79]

Various modifications of the original apparatus have been proposed to obviate this difficulty; among which the one chiefly deserving notice is figured in the margin. It consists of a bent tube having two large bulbs blown in it, and fitted with a stop-c.o.c.k and jet in the usual manner. In this case the grains or fragments of zinc are put into the lower bulb (_a_). It is, however, worthy of remark, that, with ordinary care and skill, a simple wide-mouthed bottle, furnished with a tube and c.o.c.k, will often be found to answer quite as well as more costly apparatus; as the fluid is less liable to froth than in a narrow tube. Even a common quinine-phial, or a 4-_oz._ or 6-_oz._ medicine phial, fitted with a piece of gla.s.s tube of very small bore, or even with a piece of a common tobacco-pipe, for a burner (see _engr._), may be used when no more convenient instrument is at hand.

[Footnote 79: Animal tissues and liquids containing organic matter are best prepared for testing for a.r.s.enic by Marsh's test, in the following manner proposed by Odling:--The tissue, or the residue obtained by the evaporation of a liquid over a water-bath, is to be thoroughly dried at a temperature of about 212 F., then ground to powder or cut up into small pieces, next drenched with the strongest hydrochloric acid and allowed to stand twenty-four hours in a warm place, and finally distilled. The distillate will contain a.r.s.enic (if it existed in the material under examination) comparatively free from organic matter, and is, therefore, in a fit state to be introduced into Marsh's apparatus, as the organic matter, which is the cause of frothing, has been removed.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

A film of oil placed on the surface of the liquid tends considerably to lessen the frothing.

_Objec., precau., &c._ Objections have been raised to this mode of testing, from the great frothing which often occurs with organic mixtures, and from antimony and imperfectly charred organic matter also forming crusts somewhat resembling, to the inexperienced eye, those produced by a.r.s.enic. But these objections are invalid, because there are easy means of purifying the liquid before testing it, and of discriminating between true a.r.s.enical spots or deposits and false ones. Another objection is, that both zinc and sulphuric acid sometimes contain a.r.s.enic; but to obviate this difficulty, we have only to use them when perfectly pure; and to test them by means of the apparatus before pouring the suspected liquid into it. Indeed, these objections apply with equal force to all those tests which depend on the production of nascent hydrogen. The precaution necessary to success, and to reliable results, is to set the apparatus with simple zinc, acid, and water, and after it has worked a short time to test the evolved gas for a.r.s.enic (as above); when, if no trace of that substance is detected, the suspected fluid, in which the organic matter (if necessary) has been destroyed by any one of the methods hereinafter pointed out, may be added, and the operation continued. Care should also be taken not to light the jet of gas before all the atmospheric air is expelled from the apparatus, as without this precaution an explosion may take place.

_Modification of Marsh's Test._--_Davy._ This process consists in the use of sodium amalgam instead of zinc and sulphuric acid, both of which are liable to be contaminated with a.r.s.enic. Sodium, on the other hand, has never been found to contain a.r.s.enic, and mercury only very rarely; but should it exist in that metal, it can be easily removed by digesting the mercury in dilute nitric acid, and afterwards well was.h.i.+ng it with water.

One part by weight of sodium to 8 or 10 parts of mercury forms a very good amalgam. The mercury is placed in a test-tube, and the sodium gradually added in small portions; the metals readily combine, forming an alloy, liquid whilst hot, but hard and brittle when cold.

The author uses this amalgam by placing the suspected solution, or solid substance, along with a little water in a test-tube, then adding a small piece of amalgam about the size of a grain of wheat, and quickly covering it with a piece of white filtering paper or the lid of a porcelain crucible moistened with a dilute solution of silver nitrate slightly acidified with nitric acid. If a.r.s.enic is present, a dull black or deep brown stain on the paper or porcelain will be developed on the moistened part, owing to the silver being reduced to the metallic state by the a.r.s.eniuretted hydrogen. The solution may be made by dissolving 20 gr. of nitrate of silver in an ounce of distilled water acidulated with 2 drops of strong nitric acid.

It is advisable to place between the moistened paper or lid and the tube a small disc of bibulous paper, to prevent any particles of the liquid producing minute black spots, and thus interfering with the results.

1/1000th part of a grain of a.r.s.enious acid in 1 c. c. of distilled water gives a very decided effect in a few moments, but much smaller quant.i.ties may be detected, _e.g._, the 1/100000th or even 1/1000000th part of a grain in 1 c. c.

This method is applicable not only to a.r.s.enic as a.r.s.enious acid, but also to other compounds of a.r.s.enic, soluble or insoluble in water, _e.g._, orpiment and realgar, the alkaline a.r.s.enates, and even the metal itself if in powder. Organic matter interferes but very little with this method.

Antimony, as in Marsh's process, will produce, with the sodium amalgam, results similar to those of a.r.s.enic; this, when brought into contact with the nitrate of silver, forms a black antimonide of that metal.

Fleitmann, however, pointed out that antimoniuretted hydrogen is not evolved from strongly alkaline solution, and, as in this case, the action of the sodium amalgam is to render the mixture quickly alkaline, only a very small quant.i.ty of antimony present will be evolved, and by previously rendering the mixture strongly alkaline the evolution of that gas may be almost entirely prevented.

It may be occasionally necessary to determine whether the stains on the paper moistened by the silver solution are due to a.r.s.enic or antimony. It is then best to digest the paper-stain in sulphide of ammonium, the metal present being converted into a sulphide, and dissolving in the excess of the alkaline salt, leaving the silver sulphide undissolved; the alkaline solution when evaporated will, in the case of a.r.s.enic, leave a bright yellow residue, almost insoluble in hydrochloric acid; whereas in the case of antimony an orange-coloured residue will remain soluble in that acid.

Dr Russell observes that hydrogen alone is capable of reducing silver solution to the metallic state, but acknowledges that this action is exceedingly slow. Pellet, on the other hand, maintains that pure hydrogen when pa.s.sed through solutions of soda and nitrate of silver has no action at the ordinary temperature; but he states that the silver salt which has been fused possesses an alkaline reaction in solution, and hydrogen thus produces a slight precipitate, which can be prevented by adding a drop or two of nitric acid.

Davy, however, found in his experiments only the faintest possible effect of the reducing action of pure hydrogen in solutions of caustic soda and nitrate of silver.