212 ARSENIC. 
known at a very early period. It is mentioned by 
Aristotle, who also makes a distinction between the 
compound resulting from the mixture of copper and 
calamine or brass, and that resulting from the mixture 
of copper and tin or bronze. 
ORDER II. BRITTLE METALS, 
OR SUCH AS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF BEING FLATTENED 
OR ELONGATED BY THE HAMMER WITHOUT TEAR- 
ING OR BREAKING. 
242. ARSENIC, in a metallic state, has a bluish white 
colour, and considerable brilliancy ; it is remarkably brittle, 
is the softest of all knozvn metals, and is somewhat more than 
eight times heavier than water. 
It is found nearly pure, and in considerable abundance, in 
different parts of Germany ; usually occurring in masses of 
various shapes, and in combination with a small portion of 
iron, gold, or silver. 
The arsenic sold in the shops, and too well known for its 
poisonous qualities, is an oxide (21) of this metal artificially 
prepared. 
In some mines on the Continent arsenic is very 
abundant, and is found extremely injurious to the 
workmen. Being very volatile, its fumes affect and 
destroy the lungs, and occasion death in a short time 
to many of them. One of its ores, arsenical pyrites, is 
found abundantly in Cornwall and Devonshire, accom- 
panying ores of copper and tin ; and, in combination 
with other metals, it occurs, in a greater or less pro- 
portion, in almost all mines. 
Arsenic is occasionally used in the arts. It is em- 
ployed in various metallic combinations where a white 
colour is required, and, particularly, for the whitening 
or bleaching of copper, which is thereby also rendered 
