Author
Home > Science > What is the Difference Between Arsenic and Cyanide?

Guilherme Mazui

•3 minutes to read

What is the Difference Between Arsenic and Cyanide?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

The key difference between arsenic and cyanide is that arsenic is a poisonous chemical element, while cyanide is a group of poisonous chemical compounds consisting of a cyanide functional group. Here are some key points about each substance:

Arsenic:

  • Chemical element with atomic number 33 and symbol As.
  • Occurs as a metalloid material.
  • Found in the Earth's crust and can make its way into groundwater.
  • Can cause cancer and other health problems.
  • At lower doses, causes vomiting and stomach cramps; over time, disrupts cells' ability to transport energy.

Cyanide:

  • Any chemical compound having a cyano (C≡N) group.
  • Extremely potent; only 1/500th of a teaspoon can kill an adult.
  • Works by sticking to the hemoglobin in red blood cells, causing mass devastation to a cell's ability to create energy in the body.
  • Symptoms include crushing headache, nausea, unconsciousness, and coma followed by heart stopping.

Both arsenic and cyanide are highly toxic and have been used as poisons throughout history. They have similar effects on the body, but cyanide works much faster and immediately harms the heart.

On this page
  • What is the Difference Between Arsenic and Cyanide?
  • Comparative Table: Arsenic vs Cyanide

    • Comparative Table: Arsenic vs Cyanide

    Here is a table comparing the differences between arsenic and cyanide:

    Property Arsenic Cyanide
    Chemical nature Arsenic is a poisonous chemical element with the atomic number 33 and the chemical symbol As. Cyanide is a group of poisonous chemical compounds consisting of a cyanide functional group (C≡N).
    Classification Arsenic is a metalloid element. Cyanide is a chemical compound containing carbon and nitrogen.
    Applications Arsenic has no known biological functions and is primarily used in the past as a pesticide. Cyanide is mainly produced for the mining of silver and gold, helping dissolve these metals. It is also used in the production of nitriles, cyanogen, cyanogen chloride, and cyanuric chloride. In medicine, the cyanide compound sodium nitroprusside is used to measure urine, and hydrogen cyanide has been used as a lethal gas in extermination camps.
    Toxicity Arsenic is a highly toxic substance. Cyanide is also a highly toxic substance.

    Arsenic and cyanide are both poisonous substances, but they have different chemical natures. Arsenic is a chemical element, while cyanide is a group of chemical compounds. They have distinct applications and toxicity levels, with arsenic having no known biological functions and cyanide being used in various industries and medical applications.

    Read more:

    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.