Element story

Arsenic

Atomic number 33 means that every Arsenic nucleus contains 33 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Arsenic.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 33 means that every Arsenic nucleus contains 33 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Arsenic.

Arsenic (As) is chemical element 33. It belongs to the metalloids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in semiconductors, alloys and wood preservation.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 33 means that every Arsenic nucleus contains 33 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Arsenic.

Keep exploring

→ Arsenic · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

Sources

EN · institutional/academic · IUPAC · CIAAW · NIST