COPPER (II) ARSENITE

Chemical properties

An odorless, yellow-green powder. Low vapor pressure.

Chemical properties

Cupric Acid Orthoarsenite (Scheele’s Green), CuHAsO2, green powder, insoluble in H2O, soluble in alcohol, acids, and NH4OH. Used as a wood preservative.

The Uses of COPPER (II) ARSENITE

As pigment, wood preservative, insecticide, fungicide, rodenticide.

General Description

COPPER (II) ARSENITE is a fine, light-green powder. COPPER (II) ARSENITE is insoluble in water. COPPER (II) ARSENITE is very toxic by ingestion. COPPER (II) ARSENITE is used as an insecticide and fungicide.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

COPPER (II) ARSENITE has weak oxidizing or reducing powers. Redox reactions can however still occur. The majority of compounds in this class are slightly soluble or insoluble in water. If soluble in water, then the solutions are usually neither strongly acidic nor strongly basic. These compounds are not water-reactive.

Health Hazard

Dust irritates eyes. Ingestion causes gastric disturbance, tremors, muscular cramps, and nervous collapse that may cause death.

Fire Hazard

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Poisonous, volatile arsenic oxides may be formed in fires.

Safety Profile

Confirmed human carcinogen. Poison. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of As. See also ARSENIC COMPOUNDS and COPPER COMPOUNDS.

Potential Exposure

Formerly used in agriculture as insecticide, rodenticide, and fungicide. Also used in pigments and animal medications. Not currently registered for use in the United States

Shipping

UN1586 copper arsenite, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials. Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide; water spray; or foam extinguishers. If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters. Notify local health and fire officials and pollution control agencies. From a secure, explosion-proof location, use water spray to cool exposed containers. If cooling streams are ineffective (venting sound increases in volume and pitch, tank discolors, or shows any signs of deforming), withdraw immediately to a secure position. If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped in OSHA 1910.156. The only respirators recommended for firefighting are SCBAs that have full facepieces and are operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.

Waste Disposal

Copper-containing soluble wastes can be concentrated through the use of ion exchange, reverse osmosis, or evaporators to the point where copper can be electrolytically removed and sent to a reclaiming firm. If recovery is not feasible, the copper can be precipitated through the use of caustics and the sludge deposited in a chemical waste landfill