Chemistry and Mineralogy of Arsenic

Research Article| April 01, 2006 Chemistry and Mineralogy of Arsenic Peggy A. O'Day Peggy A. O'Day 1School of Natural Sciences University of California, Merced Merced, CA 95340, USA E-mail: poday@ucmerced.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Peggy A. O'Day 1School of Natural Sciences University of California, Merced Merced, CA 95340, USA E-mail: poday@ucmerced.edu Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1811-5217 Print ISSN: 1811-5209 © 2006 by the Mineralogical Society of America Elements (2006) 2 (2): 77–83. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.2.2.77 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Peggy A. O'Day; Chemistry and Mineralogy of Arsenic. Elements 2006;; 2 (2): 77–83. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.2.2.77 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyElements Search Advanced Search Abstract Arsenic has diverse chemical behavior in the natural environment. It has the ability to readily change oxidation state and bonding configuration, which creates rich inorganic and organic chemistry. This behavior is a consequence of the electronic configuration of its valence orbitals, with partially filled states capable of both electron donation and overlap in covalent bonds. In natural compounds, arsenic bonds primarily to oxygen and sulfur, generating a variety of aqueous species and minerals. The affinity of arsenic for these two elements, along with its stable bonding to methyl groups, constitutes the structural basis for most organic and biosynthetic compounds. The agile chemistry of arsenic helps to explain its contradictory action as both a toxin and a curative, and its sometimes-elusive behavior in the environment. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.