PNICTOGEN

The term pnictogen means "to choke", due to the choking property of
nitrogen gas.

CHARACTERISTICS

Binary compounds of the group can be referred to collectively as

pnictides.
These elements are also noted for their stability in compounds due to
their tendency for forming double and triple covalent bonds.
This property of these elements leads to their potential toxicity, in
phosphorus, arsenic and antimony.
When these substances react with various chemicals of the body, they
create strong free radicals not easily processed by the liver, where
they accumulate.
Strong bonding causes nitrogen and bismuth's to be less toxic (when
in molecules), as these form strong bonds with other atoms which are
difficult to split, creating very unreactive molecules. For example N 2,
the diatomic form of nitrogen, is used as an inert gas in situations
where using argon or another noble gas would be too expensive.
All the elements in the group are solids at room temperature, except
for nitrogen which is gaseous at room temperature.
At STP nitrogen is a transparent nonmetallic gas, while bismuth is a
silvery-white metal.
Nitrogen's melting point is 210 C and its boiling point is 196 C.
Phosphorus has a melting point of 44 C and a boiling point of 280 C.
Arsenic is one of only two elements to sublimate at standard pressure;
it does this at 603 C. Antimony's melting point is 631 C and its
boiling point is 1587 C.
Bismuth's melting point is 271 C and its boiling point is 1564 C.
Nitrogen's crystal structure is hexagonal. Phosphorus's crystal
structure is cubic. Arsenic, antimony, and bismuth have rhombohedral
crystal structures.

HISTORY

The nitrogen compound sal ammoniac (ammonium chloride) was

known since the time of the Ancient Egyptians.
Ununpentium was successfully produced in 2003 by bombarding
americium-243 atoms with calcium-48 atoms.
Nitrogen can be produced by fractional distillation of air.
Nitrogen can also be produced in a large scale by burning
hydrocarbons or hydrogen in air.
On a smaller scale, it is also possible to make nitrogen by heating
barium azide.
Additionally, the following reactions produce nitrogen:
NH4++ NO2 = N2 + 2H2O
8NH3 + 3Br2 = N2 + 6NH4+ + 6Br
2NH3 + 3CuO = N2 + 3H2O + 2Cu
Most arsenic is prepared by heating the mineral arsenopyrite in the
presence of air. This forms As4O6, from which arsenic can be extracted
via carbon reduction.
It is also possible to make metallic arsenic by heating arsenopyrite at
650 to 700 C without oxygen.
With sulfide ores, the method by which antimony is produced depends
on the amount of antimony in the raw ore. If the ore contains 25% to
45% antimony by weight, then crude antimony is produced by
smelting the ore in a blast furnace. If the ore contains 45% to 60%
antimony by weight, antimony is obtained by heating the ore, also
known as liquidation.
Ores with more than 60% antimony by weight are chemically displaced
with iron shavings from the molten ore,resulting in impure metal.
Ununpentium is produced a few atoms at a time in particle
accelerators.
APPLICATIONS
Liquid nitrogen is a commonly used cryogenic liquid.
Phosphorus is used in matches and incendiary bombs.
Antimony is alloyed with lead to produce some bullets.
Antimony currency was briefly used in the 1930s in parts of China, but
this use was discontinued as antimony is soft and toxic.

BIOLOGICAL ROLE
Nitrogen is a component of molecules critical to life on earth, such as
DNA and amino acids. Nitrates occur in some plants, such as spinach
and lettuce.
A typical 70-kilogram human contains 1.8 kilograms of nitrogen.
Phosphorus in the form of phosphates occur in compounds important
to life, such as DNA and ATP.
Phosphate deficiency is a problem known as hypophosphatemia. A
typical 70-kilogram human contains 480 grams of phosphorus.
TOXICITY
Breathing in pure nitrogen gas is deadly, causing nitrogen
asphyxiation, although nitrogen gas is completely nontoxic if there is
also enough oxygen to breathe.
The buildup of nitrogen bubbles in the blood, such as during deep-sea
diving, can cause a condition known as the "Bends" (decompression
sickness).
Many nitrogen compounds, such as hydrogen cyanide and explosives
are also highly dangerous.
White phosphorus, an allotrope of phosphorus, is toxic, with 1
milligram per kilo bodyweight being a lethal dose.
White phosphorus usually kills humans within a week of ingestion by
attacking the liver. Breathing in phosphorus in its gaseous form can
cause an industrial disease called "phossy jaw", which eats away the
jawbone.
White phosphorus is also highly flammable.
Antimony is mildly toxic. Stibine, or SbH3 is far more toxic than pure
antimony.
Bismuth itself is largely nontoxic, although consuming too much of it
can damage the liver. Only one person has ever been reported to have
died from bismuth poisoning.