IT IS ELEMENTARY

Human Existence and the Chemical Elements

SC 210 May 7, 2015 John Bush

CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES

• Determine what humans can experience

• Enable humans to achieve their purposes

CLASS OUTLINE

• Weeks One and Two: committing homicide -- the elements as poisons – Criminal homicide – Sanctioned homicide – Accidental homicide

• Week Three: keeping in touch-- using the elements

• Week Four: keeping track of the elements-- the periodic table

USEFUL CONCEPTS

• Classical elements: earth, air, fire, water • Chemical elements: un-decomposable

substances-- H, O, N, C • Chemical compounds: substances formed

from chemical reactions-- H2O, NH3, CH4. CO2

SOME MORE CONCEPTS • Atoms: smallest particles of elementary

substances • Molecules: chemically bonded atoms • Ions: electrically charged atoms or groups of

chemically bonded atoms: H+, Na+, Cl-, CO3--

• Chemical bonds: – Ionic: NaCl = Na+ …. Cl- – Shared electron: H2O = H-O-H

AND FINALLY

• Structure of an atom: nucleus and electrons • Nucleus: consists of protons and neutrons • Atomic number: number of protons in the nucleus of

an atom • Atomic mass number: number of protons plus

neutrons in the nucleus of an atom • Isotopes: atoms with the same atomic number and a

different atomic mass number

HOMICIDAL POISONING

• Criminal (murder) John Emsley The Elements of Murder: A History of Poison

• Suicidal • State sanctioned—Judicial/Military • Accidental

– Industrial – Domestic – Environmental

ELEMENTS FOR CRIMINAL POISONERS

ARSENIC: “THE KING OF POISONS”

ELEMENTAL ARSENIC ARSENIC TRIOXIDE

ARSENIC (As) • Atomic number: 33, Isotope 75 • Abundance: 53rd in crust (1.5 ppm) • Compounds known since the early Bronze Age • Element isolated by Albertus Magnus 1250 AD • Current uses: strengthening alloys, electronic

components, pyrotechnics, pesticides, medicines • Former uses: pigments, cosmetics, animal food

additives, wood preservatives, stimulant, war gas

ARSENIC AND MURDER • Readily available, soluble in food and drink, odorless,

nearly tasteless, either slow or quick acting, not readily diagnosed, until 1836 untraceable in body

• “Poudre de succession” (Inheritance Powder) • Extensively used for political murders—Mithridates

VI “The Poison King” • Several spectacular trials in Victorian England • Raleigh 2005 Ann Kontz • San Diego 2007 Cynthia Sommer

ELEMENTS FOR CRIMINAL POISONERS

ANTIMONY

ELEMENTAL ANTIMONY ANTIMONY POTASSIUM TARTRATE TARTAR EMETIC

ANTIMONY (Sb)

• Atomic number 51; Isotopes 121, 123 • Abundance : 62nd in the crust (0.2-0.5 ppm) • Compounds known in antiquity; element

isolated in 1540 • Current uses: strengthen alloys, electronic

components, fire retardants, medicines, anti-alcohol abuse, cosmetics

• Former uses: pigments, laxatives, emetics

ANTIMONY AND MURDER

• Usually administered as a series of sub-lethal doses

• Several spectacular cases in Victorian England 1840-1900 – Especially used by husbands and wives to poison

their spouses – 1865 Dr. Edward Pritchard – 1876 “Murder at the Priory” Charles Bravo – 1897-1902 George Chapman

ELEMENTS FOR CRIMINAL POISONERS

MERCURY ELEMENTAL MERCURY

MERCURIC SULFIDE (CINNABAR) PIGMENTED LACQUER

MERCURY (Hg, QUICKSILVER)

• Atomic Number 80 Isotopes: 196, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 204

• Abundance: 66th in the crust (.05-.08ppm) • Element known since at least 1500 BCE • Current Uses: Mercury switches, gold and silver mining,

lighting, vaccine preservatives, dental amalgams, chemical catalysts, chlorine production, cosmetics

• Former uses: thermometers, barometers, blood pressure gauges, photography, wood preservatives, trunk lid lights, batteries, disinfectants, leather tanning, treatment of syphilis

MERCURY AND MURDER

• Drawbacks: – Metallic taste of mercuric chloride – Relatively easy chemical detection

• Sir Thomas Overbury 1613 • Roland Burnham Molineux 1898 • Albany New York 1992—poisoned candy

ELEMENTS FOR CRIMINAL POISONERS

THALLIUM: “THE POISONERS POISON”

ELEMENTAL THALLIUM THALLIUM (I) SULFATE

THALLIUM (Tl)

• Atomic Number: 81 Isotopes: 201* 203 205 • Abundance: 60th in the crust (0.5 ppm) • Discovered in 1861, isolated in 1862 • Current uses: Pesticide (rats, ants), medicine

(stress test)*, electronics, lighting, glass • Former uses: Pesticide(US), medicine

(ringworms), depilatory

THALLIUM AND MURDER • Ngaio Marsh (1947) Agatha Christie (1952) • Slow acting poison with very painful symptoms • Drawbacks

– Hair loss is a revealing symptom – Chemically detectable even after cremation

• 1930s Martha Löwenstein • 1950s Australia’s “Thallium Craze” • 1970s Graham Young “The Teacup Poisoner” • Saddam Hussein dissidents • 1988 George Trepal--Florida • 2011 BMS chemist’s husband

ELEMENTS FOR CRIMINAL POISONERS

LEAD Pb (Plumbum)

ELEMENTAL LEAD LEAD(II) ACETATE SUGAR OF LEAD

LEAD (Pb)

• Atomic Number: 82 Isotopes 204,206,207,208 • Abundance: 37th in the crust (10ppm) • Known in antiquity—at least since 6500 BCE • Current uses: batteries, weights, radiation shields,

plumbing, solder, type metal, ammunition, pigments, hair dyes, glass, semiconductors…

• Former uses: gasoline(US), cooking vessels, food additives, dental fillings, eye liner, facial makeup, pesticides, house paints(US), medicines

LEAD AND MURDER

• As a poison lead is very dangerous but as a murder weapon it is very uncertain

• Examples – 1047 Pope Clement II? – 1858 Ann Taylor – 1858 James Turner – 1882 Louisa Jane Taylor

ELEMENTS FOR CRIMINAL POISONERS

FLUORINE

ELEMENTAL FLUORINE SODIUM FLUORIDE

FLUORINE F • Atomic Number: 9 Isotope: 19 • Abundance: 13th in the crust • Isolated in 1886 • Current uses: enriching uranium, refining

aluminum and petroleum, making steel, toothpaste additive, metal cleaning, kitchenware, refrigerants, medicines, etching glass, drinking water additive

• Former use (US): rat poison

FLUORINE AND MURDER • Some advantages as a poison:

– Sodium fluoride is odorless, colorless and soluble in water

– Diagnosis depends on correct interpretation of symptoms

– Fluoride poisoning has no specific treatment

• Examples – Many accidents but murder attempts apparently

are rare – 1949 Cola Leming

ELEMENTS FOR CRIMINAL POISONERS

POLONIUM

AN EXTREMELY THIN FILM OF ELEMENTAL POLONIUM COATING A SILVER DISK

POLONIUM (P o) • Atomic number 84 Isotopes 209*, 210* • Abundance: traces (10-4 ppm) found in

Uranium ores • Discovered in 1898 Isolated in 1902 Currently

manufactured from 210Bi in Russia • Current uses: sources of subatomic particles

(nuclear weapon triggers), heaters in space probes, antistatic devices

• Former use: spark plugs (!)

POLONIUM AND MURDER • Advantages

– Lethal dose is less than 1 Microgram – Symptoms do not appear for days

• Disadvantage: Hard to handle because of its intense radioactivity

• Polonium examples-no culprit arrested – 2003 X - Yuri Shchekochikin – 2004 X -Yassar Arafat? – 2004 X -Roman Tsepov? – 2006 Andrey Lugovoy?-Alexander Litvinenko

• Other other radioisotopes in suspected murders : Plutonium Cesium 137

ELEMENTS FOR CRIMINAL POISONERS

POTASSIUM

ELEMENTAL POTASSIUM POTASSIUM CHLORIDE

POTASSIUM (K)

• Atomic number 19 Isotopes 39, 40*, 41 • Abundance 7th in the crust 2.6% (26000 ppm) • Discovered /isolated 1807 • Current Uses (potassium salts): an essential

nutrient, fertilizer, soap, glass...millions of tons of potassium salts are produced annually

POTASSIUM AND MURDER

• High concentrations of potassium chloride in blood cause sudden cardiac death

• Only effective by injection— extremely painful • Hospitals: 1993-1995 Orville Lynn Majors • Nursing homes: 1995 Susan Hey • Assisted suicides: Jack Kevorkian

IT IS ELEMENTARY

Human Existence and the Chemical Elements

SC 210 May 14, 2015

John Bush

HOMICIDAL POISONING

• Criminal (murder) • Suicidal • State sanctioned—Judicial/Military • Accidental

– Industrial – Domestic – Environmental

ELEMENTS FOR SUICIDES AND JUDICIAL POISONERS

THE COMMON ELEMENTS OF LIFE • The elements that form all poisons of plant

and animal origin • These elements or their very simple

compounds can kill—most commonly by interfering with cellular access to oxygen

• Nitrogen N2 • Carbon dioxide CO2 • Carbon monoxide CO • Hydrogen cyanide HCN

HOMICIDAL POISONING

• Criminal (murder) • Suicidal • State sanctioned—Judicial/Military • Accidental

– Industrial – Domestic – Environmental

THE ELEMENTS OF MILITARY POISONS

HISTORY OF MILITARY USE OF POISONS

• Pre 20th century almost all military poisons were of plant or animal origin—Sulfur was the exception

• 1914-1918 A “golden age” for the military use of chemicals—the first weapons of mass destruction

• Since the 1930s Chemical weapons have been used against defenseless peoples in colonial or civil wars

• 1940-2015 More powerful weapons have been created and produced but never used in major wars

SULFUR

SULFUR (S)

• Atomic number 16 Isotopes 32,33,34, 36 • Abundance 17th in crust (420 ppm) • Known since antiquity • Current Uses: sulfuric acid, wall board,

fungicide, essential nutrient, wine preservative, fumigant (sulfur dioxide), chemical weapons

PHOSPHORUS

RED PHOSPHORUS WHITE PHOSPHORUS

PHOSPHORUS (P)

• Atomic number 15 Isotope 31 • Isolated 1669 Recognized as elemental 1777 • Abundance 11th in the crust (1300 ppm) • Current Uses: military weapons, fertilizers (an

essential nutrient), baking powder, pesticides, electronics, safety matches

• Former uses: detergents(US), strike-anywhere matches

THE ELEMENTS OF MILITARY POISONS

CHLORINE

CHLORINE GAS CHLORINE LIQUID

CHLORINE (Cl)

• Atomic Number 17 Isotopes 35 37 • Abundance 21st in crust (126 ppm) • Discovered 1774 Recognized element 1808 • Current uses: Sodium chloride essential for

life; compounds in wide commercial use: bleaches, disinfectants, solvents, plastics, pesticides, chemical weapons—both the element and its compounds

ARSENIC (As) • Atomic number: 33, Isotope 75 • Abundance: 53rd in crust (1.5 ppm) • Compounds known since the early Bronze Age • Element isolated by Albertus Magnus 1250 AD • Current uses: strengthening alloys, electronic

components, pyrotechnics, pesticides, animal food additives, medicines,

• Former uses: pigments, cosmetics, wood preservatives, stimulant, war gas (lewisite)

THE ELEMENTS OF MILITARY POISONS

BROMINE

ELEMENTAL BROMINE SODIUM BROMIDE

BROMINE (Br)

• Atomic number 35 isotopes 79 81 • Abundance 59th in crust (0.37 ppm) • Discovered 1825 • Current uses: flame retardants, well drilling

fluids • Former uses: sedatives, daguerreotype

photography, gasoline additive, pesticides, Tear gas

SOME WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

• Chlorine (Cl)- Ypres 1915 • Phosgene (Cl)– Wieltje 1915 • Mustard(S,Cl)- Ypres 1917 • Adamsite (As, Cl)- Russia 1919 • Lewisite (As, Cl) – the war ended “too soon” • Nerve gases (P, O, N, C, S, F)- Yemen, Iraq,

Syria

CHLORINE AND WAR PERIODIC TABLE OF VIDEOS

5:17 minutes

HOMICIDAL POISONING

• Criminal (murder) • Suicidal • State sanctioned—Judicial/Military • Accidental

– Industrial – Domestic – Environmental

PARACELSUS “All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison” (1538)

POISONOUS ELEMENTS

FLUORINE

ELEMENTAL FLUORINE SODIUM FLUORIDE

LEAD Pb (Plumbum)

ELEMENTAL LEAD LEAD(II) ACETATE SUGAR OF LEAD

PERIODIC TABLE OF VIDEOS-LEAD

• 2:13

MERCURY ELEMENTAL MERCURY

MERCURIC SULFIDE (CINNABAR) PIGMENTED LACQUER

PERIODIC TABLE OF VIDEOS MERCURY

• 5:13 min