Arsenic

Arsenic sinadari ne da ke da lambar atom 33 kuma alamar kimiyyarsa ita ce As. Yana daga cikin rukunin sinadaran da ake kira metalloids, wato waɗanda ba su cika zama ƙarfe ba, kuma ba su kai sinadaran baƙin ƙarfe ba, sai dai suna da siffofi tsakanin biyun. Wannan ya sa arsenic ya kasance da launi, haske, da taushin da ke kama da ƙarfe, amma siffofinsa na lantarki da guba suna ɗaukar yanayin sinadaran non-metals. Arsenic yana daya daga cikin sinadaran da suka shahara saboda haɗarinsa, tarihin amfani da shi, da muhimmancinsa wajen cigaban kimiyya da fasahar zamani. A wasu yanayi yana iya aiki a matsayin semiconductor, musamman idan aka haɗa shi da wasu sinadarai kamar gallium. Wannan ya ba shi muhimmiyar rawar takawa a masana’antar lantarki, microchips, da kayan sadarwa na zamani. Haka kuma, arsenic ya daɗe yana amfani a fannin likitanci, da masana’antar kayayyaki tun kafin a gano masu guba sosai.

Tarihin gano arsenic

Arsenic yana cikin sinadaran farko da ɗan Adam ya fara amfani da su kafin ka’idojin kimiyya su tabbata. An samo shaidar amfani da arsenic tun ƙarni aru-aru a Masar, Sin, India, da Turai inda ake amfani da shi wajen maganin cututtuka, kawar da dabbobi ko kwari, da kuma a matsayin launi a kayan ado. Hakan ya nuna cewa kafin a gano haɗarinsa, mutane sun yi amfani da shi a matsayin kayan kiwon lafiya da yaƙi da cuta, kodayake daga baya an gano cewa yawancin irin waɗannan magunguna na iya haifar da wata illar.

Sunan arsenic yana da tarihi mai zurfi, ya samo asali daga kalmar Latin arsenicum wacce ita ma ta fito daga kalmar Girkanci arsenikon, ma’ana sinadari mai ƙarfi ko abu mai tsanani. Wannan ya nuna cewa tun farko an fahimci arsenic a matsayin sinadari mai ɗauke da ƙarfe da tasiri mai ƙarfi; ko dai mai amfani ko kuma mai cutarwa.

A karni na 13 masana kimiyya suka fara ware arsenic a matsayin sinadari mai zaman kansa, ba kawai a matsayin wani ɓangaren magani ko pigment ba. Zuwa ƙarni na 18 da 19, masana’antu a Turai suka fara amfani da arsenic wajen samar da pigments, kayayyaki masu launi, da kuma haɗa abubuwa daban-daban. Daga baya, lokacin da aka fara gano siffofinsa na lantarki, arsenic ya zama wani muhimmin bangare a binciken kimiyyar sinadarai da electronics. A wannan lokaci, arsenic ya taka rawa wajen samar da alloys masu ƙarfi da semiconductors kafin a sami manyan sinadaran da suka fi shi lafiya kamar silicon.

Wannan bayani ya tabbatar da cewa arsenic ya shiga tarihi ne ta hanyoyi biyu: daya mai amfani a kimiyya da masana’antu, daya kuma mai haɗari ga lafiya da muhalli. Saboda haka, a yau arsenic yana daga cikin sinadarai da ake bincike akai-akai domin amfani da shi cikin tsari da kariya.

Siffofin arsenic

Arsenic na daga cikin sinadaran metalloid da ke tsakanin siffofin ƙarfe da wanda ba karfe ba, kuma wannan matsayi na tsaka-tsaki yana ba shi siffofin da ba a samu a zahiri a cikin kowane rukuni ɗaya kadai. Launin arsenic yawanci fari ne mai ɗan duhu kolaunin azurfa mai haske, musamman idan yana cikin siffar crystalline. Idan aka matsa shi sosai yana iya dusashewa ya zama gari, wanda hakan yana nuna cewa ba shi da taurin ƙarfe sosai ko kauri kamar manyan karafa. Duk da haka, a wasu yanayi arsenic na iya nuna siffofin ƙarfe saboda ɗan ƙaramin conductivity ɗinsa, wanda yake ƙaruwa ko raguwa gwargwadon yanayin zafi, sinadaran da ya haɗu da su, da matsin lambar da yake ciki.

Arsenic ba ya lalacewa cikin sauƙi a yanayin iska, saboda yana da juriya ga oxidation. Wannan juriya tana ƙaruwa sosai idan arsenic yana cikin siffar sulfides ko oxides, misali orpiment (As₂S₃) da realgar (As₄S₄). Idan aka narka arsenic ko aka ƙara masa zafi mai yawa, yana iya haɗuwa da oxygen don samar da arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃), wanda shi ne mafi shahara tsakanin hadawan arsenic kuma shi ne mafi hatsari wajen guba. Wannan sauƙin haɗuwa da sinadarai a zafi yana nuna cewa arsenic sinadari ne mai mahimmanci wajen samar da gishirin kimiyya, reagents, da sauran abubuwa da ake amfani da su a bincike.

A bangaren zafi, arsenic yana bayyana wata siffa ta musamman wadda ba a gama samun ta a sauran manyan sinadaran karafa ba. Maimakon narkewa ya zama ruwa kamar yadda yawancin sinadarai ke yi, arsenic yana shiga sublimation a kusan 613°C, wato daga siffar ƙarfe kai tsaye zuwa hayaki ba tare da ya ratsa matakin ruwa-ruwa ba. Idan kuma aka takura yanayin ko aka canja shi zuwa wasu allotropes, ana iya samun narkewar shi a kusan 817°C, sai dai wannan ba shi ne yanayin da aka fi samu a dakin gwaje-gwaje ba. Wannan siffa ta sa arsenic zama sinadari da ke buƙatar kulawa da ka’ida idan ana sarrafa shi a masana’antu masu amfani da wuta ko zafi mai yawa.

A jadawalin sinadarai arsenic yana cikin rukuni na 15, tare da nitrogen, phosphorus, antimony, da bismuth. Wannan matsayi yana nuna cewa arsenic na da electrons guda biyar a layin waje (valence electrons), wanda shi ne ke ba shi damar haɗuwa da sinadaran oxygen, halogens, da sulfur cikin sauƙi. Lokacin da ya haɗu da oxygen yana samar da arsenates da arsenites, waɗanda ke da amfani a sinadarai da kuma amfani a gwaje-gwaje da kiwon lafiya. Lokacin da arsenic ya haɗu da halogens kamar chlorine ko fluorine, ana samun arsenic halides waɗanda ke taka muhimmiyar rawa wajen electron doping a microelectronics, musamman don samar da gallium arsenide (GaAs) wanda yake daya daga cikin mafi muhimmanci a hanyoyin sadarwa da microchips.

Siffofin arsenic suna tabbatar da cewa sinadarin ba mai guba ba ne kamar yadda aka fi sani a tarihi, yana ɗauke da muhimman siffofi na quantum da sinadaran da ke sa shi zama tushen kayan aiki mai nauyi a ilimin kimiyya, ma’aikatun lantarki, binciken muhalli, da magunguna na zamani.

Samuwar arsenic

• Arsenic ba ya wanzuwa kai tsaye a duniya a matsayin sinadari tatacce, sai dai yana haɗuwa da wasu ma’adinai a yanayi.
• Yawanci ana samun shi ne a cikin duwatsu masu ɗauke da sulfur, kamar orpiment (As₂S₃) da realgar (As₄S₄), waɗanda tun zamanin da ake amfani da su saboda launinsu mai haske.
• Haka kuma arsenic yana wanzuwa tare da wasu ma’adinan ƙarfe, musamman zinc, copper da gold, inda yake kasancewa ɓangare kaɗan na sinadaran.
• A cikin ƙasa da ruwa ma ana iya samun shi a siffar trace element, musamman a wuraren da ake hakar ma’adinai ko yankunan da ake sarrafa ƙarfe da masana’antun chemicals, wanda hakan kan sa ya yadu a muhallin

Hanyoyin tace arsenic

Hanyar fitar arsenic daga ores tana buƙatar mataki na kimiyya da kulawa saboda gubarsa da irin tsarin da yake da shi. Ana fara hakar duwatsu masu ɗauke da arsenic, sannan a ƙona ko a dumama su cikin iska domin arsenic ya sauya siffarsa zuwa hayaki. Wannan hayaki ana sanyaya shi a hankali har ya koma sinadari mai ƙyalli a siffar arsenic trioxide.

A wasu lokuta ana amfani da hanya ta sublimation, inda arsenic daga solid yake tashi a matsayin gas kai tsaye ba tare da narkewa ba, sannan a kama shi ta hanyar condensation domin sake samun shi a siffar crystal tatacce. Idan arsenic yana tare da wasu ƙarafa, ana amfani da dabarun chemical leaching ko tacewa ta electrolysis domin raba shi daga karafan da ya haɗu da su.

Saboda haka, arsenic yakan fito ne a matsayin bangaren copper, zinc da gold, wanda yasa kasuwannin mining su ne tushen samar da arsenic a yawancin ƙasashe.

Isotopes na arsenic

Arsenic yana da isotope guda ɗaya ne kawai mai ɗorewa a yanayi, wato ⁷⁵As, wanda shi ne ake samu a cikin dukkan yanayi a doron ƙasa. Wannan isotopen shi ne tushen duk abin da ake kira stable arsenic, saboda ba ya raguwa ko rushewa ta hanyar radiation. Yawansa ya kai kusan kashi ɗari bisa ɗari (100%), kuma shi ne ake amfani da shi wajen nazarin sinadarai, nazarin yanayi, da binciken lafiyar ruwa da ƙasa. Saboda kasancewarsa ɗaya tilo, duk sauran isotopes na arsenic ana samun su ne ta hanyar nuclear activation, particle irradiation, ko reactor-based synthesis, ba ta hanyar da ake samun ⁷⁵As ba.

Baya ga ⁷⁵As, arsenic yana da jerin isotopes masu yawa amma yawancinsu radioactive ne, wato suna rushewa a kan lokaci. Daga cikin mafi shahara akwai ⁷³As, ⁷⁴As, ⁷⁶As, ⁷⁷As, da ⁷⁸As. Kowanne daga cikinsu yana da half-life (tsawon lokacin da rabin sa ke rushewa) daban-daban, wanda hakan ke ba su damar yin amfani a fannonin binciken kimiyya daban-daban. Kadan daga cikinsu suna da half-life mai tsayi kadan zuwa matsakaici, wannan ya ba su damar amfani wajen gwajin radiation, biomedical tracing, da gano yaduwar arsenic a jikin ruwa, ƙasa, tsirrai, da dabbobi.

• Arsenic ⁷³As: yana daya daga cikin isotopes da ake amfani da su wajen gudanar da gwaje-gwajen nukiliya saboda yana rushewa cikin lokaci gajere, yana fitar da radiation mai sauƙin ganowa. Wannan yana taimaka wa masana wajen bibiyar yadda arsenic ke motsi a tsarin halittu ko a ma’adinai.
• Arsenic ⁷⁴As: yana daga cikin isotopes da ake amfani da su a binciken radiotherapy research da radiopharmaceutical experimental studies, musamman domin ya dace da nazarin kananan ƙwayoyin cuta da tantance saurin narkewa ko yaduwar magungunan arsenic a jiki.
• Arsenic ⁷⁶As da ⁷⁷As: suna da muhimmanci a fannin environmental geochemistry saboda ana amfani da su wajen nazarin yaduwa da taruwar arsenic a cikin ruwa da ƙasa. Idan akwai gurbacewar ruwa ko ƙasa da arsenic, waɗannan isotopes na iya nuna tsawon lokacin da sinadarin ya dauka yana taruwa, hanyoyin motsinsa, da irin tasirin da zai iya yi ga lafiyar halittu na dogon lokaci.
• Arseni ⁷⁸As: wannan da wasu isotopes masu nauyi suna da half-life mafi gajarta, don haka ana amfani da su ne a gwaje-gwajen da ba su buƙatar lokaci mai tsawo. Sau da yawa ana samar da su ne ta particle bombardment a cikin accelerators, kuma ana amfani da su don nazarin decay chains, nuclear transition energy, da particle emission.

Wannan rabe-raben isotopes da amfani amfaninsu ya tabbatar da cewa arsenic ba wai sinadari mai guba ba ne kawai, wani muhimmin abu ne na kimiyya da ake amfani da shi wajen binciken duniya ta fuskar radiation, lafiyar ɗan Adam, sinadarai, ilimin ƙasa, da micro-electronics.

Amfanin arsenic

Arsenic yana da amfani mai yawa a fannoni daban-daban, duk da kasancewarsa mai guba a wasu yanayi.

• Lamtarki

A ma’aikatun lantarki, arsenic yana taka rawa a matsayin semiconductor lokacin da aka haɗa shi da wasu sinadarai kamar gallium don samar da gallium arsenide (GaAs). Wannan sinadari yana da amfani sosai wajen kera transistors, diodes, da integrated circuits da ke aiki a high-frequency da microelectronics. Gallium arsenide yana ba da dama ga kayan aiki su yi aiki cikin sauri fiye da na Silicon a wasu na’urori, musamman a fannonin sadarwa da radar.

• Masana’antu

A bangaren masana’antu, arsenic ana amfani da shi wajen ƙera wasu alloys da ke da juriyar lalacewa a zafi. Misali, ana haɗa shi da lead ko copper domin ƙara ƙarfin kayayyaki ko nagartar sassa masu ɗaukar nauyi a injina. Haka kuma, a masana’antun gilashi da pigments, ana amfani da arsenic wajen samar da launuka ko rage danshi a wasu nau’in gilashi.

• Kiwon lafiya

A fannin magunguna da kiwon lafiya, arsenic ya kasance wani muhimmin sinadari a tarihin magani. An yi amfani da arsenic compounds, kamar arsenic trioxide, wajen magance cututtuka da dama a zamanin da, kuma har yanzu ana amfani da su a wasu magunguna na zamani, musamman wajen magance cutar leukemia mai haɗari.

• Kimiyya

Baya ga wannan, arsenic yana da amfani wajen bincike na kimiyya da nazarin yanayi. Ana amfani da shi wajen gano tsarin ma’adinai, gano yanayin ruwa, da fannonin binciken tarihi da geochemistry. Wannan ya nuna cewa, duk da kasancewarsa mai haɗari, arsenic yana taka muhimmiyar rawa a fannonin kimiyya, masana’antu, da fasaha.

Manazarta

Bowell, R. J., Alpers, C. N., Jamieson, H. E., Nordstrom, D. K., & Majzlan, J. (2014). The environmental geochemistry of Arsenic – An overview. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 79(1), 1–16. U.S. Geological Survey Publications+1

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (2023, October). Arsenic and Your Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  NIEHS+1

Smedley, P. (2008). Water quality fact sheet: Arsenic. British Geological Survey.

Welch, A. H., Watkins, S. A., Helsel, D. R., & Focazio, M. J. (2000). Arsenic in Ground‑Water Resources of the United States. U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 063‑00. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs06300 U.S. Geological Survey Publications+1

World Health Organization. (2022). Arsenic: Fact sheet on chemical contaminants in drinking‑water. Guidelines for Drinking‑Water Quality (4th ed.).

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