Chemical Properties
Arsenic acid disodium salt is not combustible. It emits irritating or toxic fumes or gases in
a fi re.
Chemical Properties
White crystalline, odorless solids.
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.
Chemical Properties
Clear, colorless crystals; mild alkaline
taste. Soluble in water; slightly
soluble in alcohol and glycerol; insoluble in ether.
Uses
Mordant and assist in dyeing and printing, other
arsenates, germicide.
Definition
ChEBI: An inorganic sodium salt composed from sodium cations and arsenate dianions in a 2:1 ratio.
Preparation
Sodium arsenate is obtained by roasting a mixture of arsenic oxide with sodium carbon ate and sodium nitrate in the presence of air.In addition, this compound can be easily obtained by calcining sodium arsenate(III) in the pres ence of air.
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.
Contact allergens
Arsenic salts are sensitizers, but most often irritants.
They are used in copper or gold extraction, glass,
feeds, weedkillers, insecticides, and ceramics. A recent
case was reported in a crystal factory worker with positive
patch tests to sodium arsenate.
Safety Profile
Confirmed human
carcinogen. Poison by intraperitoneal route.
Human mutation data reported. When
heated to decomposition it emits toxic
fumes of arsenic. See ARSENIC
COMPOUNDS.
Potential Exposure
Sodium arsenate is used in
dyeing and printing; making other arsenates; as a germicide;
in dyeing with turkey-red oil.
storage
It is important to keep stored organic arsenic compounds in a cool, dry, well-ventilated
area in tightly sealed containers and with proper labels and identifi cation. The storage
containers of organic arsenic compounds should be protected from physical damage and
stored separately from oxidizers such as perchlorates, peroxides, permanganates, chlorates,
or nitrates, and strong acids such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, or nitric acid. Further,
specifi c organic arsenic compounds must have separate storage requirements, which
should be evaluated prior to storage.
Precautions
During handling and use of arsenic compounds, workers should use appropriate personal
protective clothing and equipment. Users/workers must be careful during use, and maintain
effective measures to prevent skin contact with organic arsenic compounds. The selection
of the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, sleeves, and
encapsulating suits should be based on the extent of the worker’s potential exposure to
organic arsenic compounds. The users and the management should periodically evaluate
and determine the effectiveness of the chemical-resistant clothing in preventing dermal
contact and ensuring users’ safety.
