cer of arsenic metal and arsenic trioxide. The United States is the largest consumer of the product, according to 1996 statistics. In fact, the United States attributed to about two-thirds of the world's demand. All of the arsenic required by the United States was imported. America had ceased the production of arsenic since 1985. Arsenic can be prepared in its pure form by heating arsenopyrite. It can also be found as by-products of other ores during smelting. (Edelstein 1996)Many people, when they think of arsenic, think of the element as a deadly and dangerous poison. And so it is. However, it is rarely come upon nowadays in clinical practice. Inorganic arsenicals are more likely to cause poisoning then arsenic derived organically. Arsenic is often used in products such as weed killers, insecticides, and rodenticides. Ingestion of any of these can cause severe poisoning. Most of the toxic effects of arsenic are on the digestive system, such as burning gastroenteritis. It can also cause hypotension and circulatory collapse in the cardiovascular system, and headaches and weak muscles in the nervous system. Victims of arsenic poisoning may also experience blood in their urine. Of course there are treatments for arsenic poisoning, but it is imperative to first make sure that arsenic is the cause of the poisoning because the treatment can be just as hazardous. (Matthew and Lawson 1970)Element 33, otherwise known as arsenic, is arguably one of the most well known elements in the world. At the same time, its properties and uses are considerably less known. Arsenic is the 20th most common naturally occurring element. It is present in all humans and is an easily obtainable poison. This element is also used in the production of ceramics, enamels, paint, wallpaper, glass, insecticides, pesticides, and rat poisons. (Turkington 1994) Arsenic also strengthens lead in batteries and improves copper alloys' resistance to corrosion...
