Arsenic acid ( H3AsO4cap H sub 3 cap A s cap O sub 4 ) is a highly toxic inorganic compound that serves as the arsenic analog of phosphoric acid. It is primarily found as a clear, colorless aqueous solution and is one of the most commercially significant pentavalent (oxidation state +5) arsenic compounds. Chemical Identity and Synthesis
Arsenic acid consists of one oxo group and three hydroxy groups attached to a central arsenic atom, a structure more descriptively written as arsenic acid
: It is typically synthesized by treating arsenic trioxide ( As2O3cap A s sub 2 cap O sub 3 Arsenic acid ( H3AsO4cap H sub 3 cap
: Chemically, arsenate and phosphate ions behave very similarly, which is a key factor in its biological toxicity. Biological Impact and Toxicity Biological Impact and Toxicity