When, where, how was Arsenic discovered?

Arsenic compounds were mined by the early Chinese, Greek and Egyptian civilisations. No doubt they discovered its toxic properties early on. It is believed that Albertus Magnus obtained the element in 1250 A.D. who obtained it by heating soap together with orpiment (arsenic trisulphide, As 2 S 3). read more

Compounds of arsenic have been used since ancient times. However, Geber (a chemist, astrologer, geologist, engineer, physicist, pharmacist and physician) was the first person to isolate arsenic and determine that it was a unique chemical element. read more

Arsenic is neither a metal nor a non-metal but instead joins a select but rather ill defined group of elements called the metalloids. These are found in the periodic table along a diagonal line from Boron at the top left to round about polonium at the bottom right. read more

Arsenic compounds were mined by the early Chinese, Greek and Egyptian civilisations. No doubt they discovered its toxic properties early on. It is believed that Albertus Magnus obtained the element in 1250 A.D. who obtained it by heating soap together with orpiment (arsenic trisulphide, As2S3). read more

A more dangerous form of arsenic, called white arsenic, has also been long known. This was the trioxide, As2O3, and was a by-product of copper refining. When this was mixed with olive oil and heated it yielded arsenic metal itself. The discovery of the element arsenic is attributed to Albertus Magnus in the 1200s. read more