Arsine | Metro Welding Supply Corp.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

Arsine gas, chemically known as AsH₃, is a colorless, flammable, and highly toxic gas with a distinctive garlic-like odor. Despite its hazardous nature, Arsine Gas plays a crucial role in various industrial applications, making it an essential component in certain processes.

10 KEY CHARACTERISTICS

1. Toxicity: Arsine is extremely toxic to humans and can cause severe health effects even at very low concentrations. It primarily affects the respiratory system and can lead to systemic poisoning.
2. Odorless: Arsine is odorless, which means it lacks a distinct smell that can serve as a warning sign of its presence.
3. Colorless: Arsine is a colorless gas, making it difficult to visually detect.
4. Flammability: Arsine is highly flammable and can ignite in the presence of air, oxygen, or other oxidizing agents. It forms explosive mixtures with air at concentrations between 5.1% and 78.5% by volume.
5. Heavy Gas: Arsine is denser than air, which means it tends to sink and accumulate in low-lying areas, increasing the risk of exposure.
6. Reactivity: Arsine is reactive with many metals, particularly copper, silver, and mercury, which can lead to the formation of toxic compounds.
7. Corrosivity: Arsine can corrode metals and can cause damage to equipment that comes into contact with it.
8. Symptoms of Exposure: Exposure to arsine can lead to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, respiratory distress, convulsions, and coma.
9. Long-term Health Effects: Chronic exposure to arsine can lead to damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. It can also lead to skin lesions.
10. Environmental Impact: Arsine is not considered a significant environmental pollutant due to its high toxicity and reactivity, which lead to rapid breakdown in the environment.

10 COMMON USES

1. Semiconductor Manufacturing: Arsine was historically used in the production of semiconductors. It served as a dopant, introducing arsenic atoms into silicon wafers to alter their electronic properties.
2. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): In the past, arsine was used in CVD processes for depositing thin films of arsenic compounds onto substrates.
3. Metal Plating: Arsine was used in the electroplating industry to apply thin coatings of arsenic onto various metals.
4. Alloy Production: It was employed in the production of certain alloys, such as lead-arsenic alloys.
5. Gas Detection and Calibration: Arsine was used as a calibration gas for certain types of gas detectors, particularly those designed to detect arsine itself.
6. Chemical Synthesis: In specialized chemical laboratories, arsine was used as a reagent in certain synthetic reactions.
7. Research and Development: In research settings, arsine may have been used in experiments involving arsenic compounds.
8. Hydrogenation Reactions: Arsine has been used in certain hydrogenation reactions, where it can act as a reducing agent.
9. Nuclear Reactors: In some specialized applications, arsine was used in nuclear reactors for its neutron-absorbing properties.
10. Phosphor Production: Arsine was used in the production of certain phosphors, which are materials that emit light when exposed to certain wavelengths.