Arsenic and Lead - Comparison - Properties

This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of arsenic and lead, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Arsenic vs Lead.

arsenic and lead - comparison

Compare arsenic with another element

Compare lead with another element

Arsenic and Lead – About Elements

Arsenic

Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in combination with sulfur and metals, but also as a pure elemental crystal. Arsenic is a metalloid.

Lead

Lead is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and has a relatively low melting point. Lead is widely used as a gamma shield. Major advantage of lead shield is in its compactness due to its higher density. Lead has the highest atomic number of any stable element and concludes three major decay chains of heavier elements.

Arsenic in Periodic Table

Lead in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Arsenic and Lead – Applications

Arsenic

Arsenic is used as a doping agent in semiconductors (gallium arsenide) for solid-state devices. It is also used in bronzing, pyrotechnics and for hardening shot. Arsenic compounds can be used to make special glass and preserve wood.

Lead

Lead metal has several useful mechanical properties, including high density, low melting point, ductility, and relative inertness. Lead is widely used for car batteries, pigments, ammunition, cable sheathing, weights for lifting, weight belts for diving, lead crystal glass, radiation protection and in some solders. The largest use of lead in the early 21st century is in lead–acid batteries. The lead in batteries undergoes no direct contact with humans, so there are fewer toxicity concerns. Lead is used in high voltage power cables as sheathing material to prevent water diffusion into insulation; this use is decreasing as lead is being phased out. A lead is widely used as a gamma shield. Major advantage of lead shield is in its compactness due to its higher density. On the other hand depleted uranium is much more effective due to its higher Z. Depleted uranium is used for shielding in portable gamma ray sources.

Arsenic and Lead – Comparison in Table

Element	Arsenic	Lead
Density	5.727 g/cm3	11.34 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength	N/A	17 MPa
Yield Strength	N/A	5.5 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity	8 GPa	16 GPa
Mohs Scale	3.5	1.5
Brinell Hardness	1440 MPa	38 MPa
Vickers Hardness	N/A	N/A
Melting Point	817 °C	327.5 °C
Boiling Point	614 °C	1740 °C
Thermal Conductivity	50 W/mK	35 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	5.6 µm/mK	28.9 µm/mK
Specific Heat	0.33 J/g K	0.13 J/g K
Heat of Fusion	N/A	4.799 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization	34.76 kJ/mol	177.7 kJ/mol