Important: Safety Warning
This page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
In addition, this page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Home › Acids › To Obtain Arsenic Acid
To Obtain Arsenic Acid
Pour Acid. Add oxychloride of phosphorus to an 6 parts of strong nitric acid on 1 part of white excess of benzoate of soda; agitate together, arsenic (arsenious acid) in a glass vessel, and and wash the mixture with boiling water. distill until the solution acquires the consist- The anhydrous benzoic acid sinks like a ence of a syrup, then transfer it into a platina crucible, and expose it for some time to a faint dull red heat, to expel the nitric acid. The addition of a little muriatic acid facilitates the process. heavy oil, and crystallizes on cooling.