What is the Difference Between Arsenic and Phosphorus?

Arsenic and phosphorus are both elements in the p-block of the periodic table of elements, and they can be found in nature as minerals in combination with other elements. They share some similarities due to their position in the periodic table, but there are key differences between them.

• Nature of the Element: Arsenic is a non-metal, while phosphorus is a metalloid.
• Atomic Number: Arsenic has an atomic number of 33, while phosphorus has an atomic number of 15.
• Chemical Analog: Arsenic is a chemical analog of phosphorus, meaning they have similar atomic radii, the same number of valence electrons, and nearly identical electronegativity and orbital configurations.
• Biomolecules: Arsenic and phosphorus derivatives are so similar that arsenate can be incorporated into metabolic pathways usually requiring phosphate.

Despite their similarities, arsenic is more chemically similar to phosphorus than nitrogen due to certain factors, such as the presence of d orbitals and the difference in electron holding capacity between the second and third periods of the periodic table.

Comparative Table: Arsenic vs Phosphorus

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

Arsenic and phosphorus are both in the p-block of the periodic table of elements and can be found in nature as minerals, where they occur in combination with other elements such as sulfur and metals. However, there are some key differences between the two:

• Arsenic is a nonmetal, while phosphorus is a metalloid.
• Arsenic can be found as a pure chemical element in crystal form, while phosphorus cannot.
• Arsenic is more chemically similar to phosphorus than nitrogen due to their shared group membership and similar atomic radii, electronegativity, and orbital configurations.