Arsenic compounds

Arsenic trioxide powder.

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]

  1. ^ Uher, Ctirad (2001). "Chapter 5 Skutterudites: Prospective novel thermoelectrics". Recent Trends in Thermoelectric Materials Research I: Skutterudites: Prospective novel thermoelectrics. Semiconductors and Semimetals. Vol. 69. pp. 139–253. doi:10.1016/S0080-8784(01)80151-4. ISBN 978-0-12-752178-7.
  2. ^ Norman, Nicholas C. (1998). Chemistry of Arsenic, Antimony and Bismuth. Springer. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-7514-0389-3.