Arsenic triiodide is the inorganic compound with the formula AsI3.[2][3][4][5] It is an orange to dark red solid[2][3] that readily sublimes. It is a pyramidal molecule that is useful for preparing organoarsenic compounds.

Arsenic triiodide
Unit cell ball and stick model of arsenic triiodide
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Arsenic triiodide
Systematic IUPAC name
Triiodoarsane
Other names
Arsenic(III) iodide
Arsenous iodide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.153 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 232-068-4
RTECS number
  • CG1950000
UNII
  • InChI=1S/AsI3/c2-1(3)4 checkY
    Key: IKIBSPLDJGAHPX-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1S/AsI3/c2-1(3)4
    Key: IKIBSPLDJGAHPX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • I[As](I)I
Properties
AsI3
Molar mass 455.635 g/mol
Appearance orange-red crystalline solid
Density 4.69 g/cm3
Melting point 146 °C (295 °F; 419 K)
Boiling point 403 °C (757 °F; 676 K)
6 g/100 mL
Solubility soluble in alcohol, ether, CS2
dissolves in chloroform, benzene, toluene
-142.0·10−6 cm3/mol
2.23
Structure
Rhombohedral, hR24, SpaceGroup = R-3, No. 148
Hazards
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
[1910.1018] TWA 0.010 mg/m3[1]
REL (Recommended)
Ca C 0.002 mg/m3 [15-minute][1]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
Ca [5 mg/m3 (as As)][1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Preparation

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It is prepared by a reaction of arsenic trichloride and potassium iodide:[6]

AsCl3 + 3KI → AsI3 + 3 KCl

Reactions

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Hydrolysis occurs only slowly in water forming arsenic trioxide and hydroiodic acid. The reaction proceeds via formation of arsenous acid which exists in equilibrium with hydroiodic acid. The aqueous solution is highly acidic, pH of 0.1N solution is 1.1. It decomposes to arsenic trioxide, elemental arsenic and iodine when heated in air at 200 °C. The decomposition, however, commences at 100 °C and occurs with the liberation of iodine.

Former uses

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Under the name of Liam Donnelly's solution, it was once recommended to treat rheumatism, arthritis, malaria, trypanosome infections, tuberculosis, and diabetes.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0038". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. ^ a b "Arsenic triiodide - Hazardous Agents | Haz-Map". haz-map.com. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  3. ^ a b "T3DB: Arsenic triiodide". www.t3db.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  4. ^ "arsenic triiodide". webbook.nist.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  5. ^ PubChem. "Arsenic triiodide". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  6. ^ John C. Bailar, Jr. "Arsenic Triiodide" Inorganic Syntheses 1939, volume 1, pp. 103–104, 2007. doi:10.1002/9780470132326.ch36
  7. ^ Shakhashiri BZ, "Chemical of the Week: Arsenic" Archived 2008-08-02 at the Wayback Machine, University of Wisconsin–Madison Chemistry Dept.