Chemical Properties
Arsenic acid disodium salt is not combustible. It emits irritating or toxic fumes or gases in
a fi re.
Chemical Properties
Sodium arsenate is currently registered for use as ant bait. These baits are used in approximately
1% of US homes. Sodium arsenate is a pentavalent form of inorganic arsenic. It is
a heptahydrate that normally exists as colorless crystals with no discernible odor. Sodium
arsenate contains 24% arsenic.
Definition
ChEBI: An inorganic sodium salt composed from sodium cations and arsenate dianions in a 2:1 ratio.
Hazard
Toxic by ingestion and inhalation.
Health Hazard
Exposures to arsenic acid disodium salt cause adverse health effects. The symptoms of
poisoning include, but are not limited to, cough, headache, sore throat, weakness, respiratory distress, labored breathing, irritation to the eyes, and skin, dermatitis, mucous
membranes, the respiratory tract, and pigmentation disorders. Repeated or prolonged
contact with arsenic acid disodium salt causes cardiovascular disorders affects the nervous system, neuropathy, and kidneys, resulting in severe gastroenteritis, loss of fl uids
and electrolytes, kidney impairment, collapse, shock, and death.
Health Hazard
Inorganic arsenical compounds have been classifi ed as Class A oncogenes, demonstrating
positive oncogenic effects based on suffi cient human epidemiological evidence.
Inorganic arsenicals are known to be acutely toxic. The symptoms that follow oral exposure
include severe gastrointestinal damage resulting in vomiting and diarrhea, and
general vascular collapse leading to shock, coma, and death. Muscular cramps, facial
edema, and cardiovascular reactions are also known to occur following oral exposure
to arsenic.
On ingestion, organic arsenic compounds cause severe health effects, including burning
lips, throat constriction, abdominal pain, dysphagia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions,
coma, and death. Irritation of the respiratory tract, skin, and eyes may result from
inhalation exposures. Chronic exposure to organic arsenic compounds may result in dermatitis,
anemia, leukocytopenia, or the effects associated with several forms of cancer.
Potential Exposure
Sodium arsenate is used in
dyeing and printing; making other arsenates; as a germicide;
in dyeing with turkey-red oil.
