Arsenic pentoxide

Synonyms

Anhydride arsenique [French]; Arsenic acid anhydride; Arsenic anhydride; Arsenic oxide; Arsenic oxide (As2O5); Arsenic pentaoxide; Arsenic(5+) oxide; Arsenic(V) oxide; Diarsenic pentoxide; [ChemIDplus] UN1559

Category

Arsenic Compounds, Inorganic

Description

White deliquescent solid; [Hawley] White odorless powder; Soluble in water (132 g/L at 20 deg C); [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used as a herbicide and insecticide; Also used in wood preservatives, for dyeing and printing, in colored glass, in metal adhesives, and to make metal arsenates; [HSDB] Used as a fungicide; [Merck Index]

Comments

A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; May cause arsenic poisoning; [ICSC] May cause skin sensitization; [HSDB] Extremely toxic with an oral lethal dose for humans of 5-50 mg/kg, or between 7 drops and 1 teaspoonful for a 150-lb. person; [CAMEO] An irritant; [MSDSonline] See "Arsenic" and the linked occupational diseases.

Biomedical References

Inorganic arsenic plus methylated metabolites in urine = 35 ug As/L; end of workweek;

0.01 mg/m3, as As

0.01 mg/m3, as As

5 mg/m3, as As

will not burn

Aplastic anemia

Sensorimotor

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Established

Human carcinogen

Confirmed Human

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Arsenic, chronic toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Applying Wood Preservatives
• Farming (Pesticides)
• Glass Manufacturing
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)
• Working with Glues and Adhesives