Orpiment

🧪 Industries That Use Orpiment (As₂S₃ – Arsenic Disulfide)

Orpiment, a deep yellow to orange arsenic sulfide mineral (As₂S₃), has a long history of use in ancient medicine, pigment production, and alchemical practices. Though highly toxic, it has been of historical significance in various traditional and industrial sectors. Today, due to its arsenic content, its usage is highly regulated or banned in many applications.

1. Traditional & Historical Medicine (⚠️ Historical Use Only)

Historically used in Unani, Persian, Chinese, and Ayurvedic medicine systems for various ailments, but modern medicine classifies it as toxic and generally unsafe for ingestion or prolonged topical use.

Historical applications:

• Used in paste form for skin diseases or ulcers

• Thought to have antimicrobial or anti-parasitic properties

• Occasionally combined with herbal ingredients in traditional formulations

⚠️ Highly discouraged today due to the risk of arsenic poisoning

2. Pigment & Art Industry (Historical and Specialty Use)

Orpiment was once used as a bright yellow pigment known as “King’s Yellow” in manuscript illumination and fine art before the development of synthetic alternatives.

Applications:

• Illuminated manuscripts and paintings (medieval to Renaissance periods)

• Specialty pigments for restoration of antique artwork

• Rare use in artistic or historical reproduction projects

✅ Replaced today by non-toxic synthetic yellow pigments

3. Glass & Ceramics Industry (Minor Use)

In some specialized glass and ceramic formulations, orpiment may be used to achieve specific coloration or optical properties.

• Used in ancient and historic glass making

• May act as a decolorizer or additive in antique restoration glazes

⚠️ Modern manufacturers rarely use it due to toxicity

4. Alchemy & Metallurgy (Historical)

Orpiment held significant importance in alchemical traditions, where it symbolized transformation and was studied for its mystical and elemental qualities.

Uses in the past:

• Combined with realgar or mercury compounds in elixirs (⚠️ toxic)

• Considered a source of arsenic in metallurgical experiments

• Investigated for arsenic-based compounds in early chemistry

✅ Now replaced with safer chemical alternatives

5. Semiconductor & Optoelectronics Research

In recent years, orpiment has attracted limited interest in scientific research due to its semiconducting properties and layered structure.

Research applications:

• Thin film semiconductor research

• Study of photoelectric and thermoelectric properties

• Niche materials science (similar to molybdenum disulfide)

✅ Only under strict laboratory control due to toxicity

6. Mineral Collection & Educational Displays

Orpiment remains a highly prized mineral specimen for collectors, museums, and geological displays due to its unique color and crystal formation.

Uses:

• Museum-grade mineral specimens

• Educational kits for mineralogy students (non-contact display only)

• Often paired with realgar in natural ore samples

⚠️ Always labeled as hazardous and handled with gloves

⚠️ Safety & Regulatory Note

• Orpiment is highly toxic if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through skin

• Not approved for pharmaceutical, food, or cosmetic use

• Handling requires personal protective equipment (PPE) and regulated disposal

✅ Summary of Key Applications

🌟 Key Features:

• Natural mineral of arsenic disulfide (As₂S₃)

• Bright yellow-orange crystalline appearance

• Highly toxic, banned in most modern consumer products

• Valued in historical contexts, mineralogy, and rare pigment art

 

 

 

To order Orpiment powder, please contact us.

 

About Orpiment

Orpiment or Zarnikh is a type of mineral that is in the group of sulfides.

The crystal structure of this mineral is monoclinic and often appears as masses of dense and laminated flakes, sometimes as a dense set of small prism-shaped and relatively elongated crystals with a pyramidal tip, and sometimes as very small and dense crystals.

Arsenic Disulfide is found in yellow, orange-yellow, orange, reddish-orange and red colors. But the color of its powder is yellow. Its flaky and scaly masses are opaque. But its crystals are transparent or semi-transparent. Arsenic Disulfide burnish is pearly or resin-like.

The hardness of Arsenic Disulfide is 1.5 to 2 and its density is 3.4 to 3.5. Orpiment has an excellent cleavage in one direction.

The best Zarnikh is yellow, shiny, and flaky, breaks easily and smells like Sulphur. This mineral is often found in low-temperature hydrothermal veins, and around the side vents of volcanoes and hot springs.

 

Orpiment Temperament

Yellow Arsenic Disulfide is in the third degree of hot and dry and the red one is the fourth degree of hot and dry.

 

Orpiment Chemical Constituents

Sulfur and Arsenic.

 

Orpiment Health Benefits Arsenic Disulfide calcination is a strong purifier of blood and tonic for sexual power. Zarnikh and Pine resin, if the smoke reaches the throat, is useful for old wet cough. Consuming 0.5 grams of orpiment, 0.5 grams of Oriental Sweetgum, 0.5 grams of Chilgoza Pine fruit and 0.5 grams of almond kernels for several days in a row, and then eating a mixture of wheat flour and almond kernels porridge and fresh tallow helps to cure chronic cough and shortness of breath.

Poultice of this mineral and lime remove excess hair.

Its calcination stops menstrual bleeding and cures phlegm diseases, chronic fever, nervous diseases, polydipsia, joint pain, sperm deficiency, blood diseases, leprosy, and shortness of breath. The use of Zarnikh in poultices helps to heal chronic wounds.

 

Side Effects

Raw Arsenic Disulfide causes the humors to rotten and burn the blood, and eating 5 grams of it causes poisoning, severe heartburn, intestinal ulcers, joint pain, blackening of the skin, and death. Too much poultice of Zarnikh causes the skin to turn black, reduce sexual power and weak erection.

 

Dose

Raw Arsenic Disulfide 0.5 gram. Its calcination 0.03 grams.

 

Modifiers

Sweet almond oil, Yellow Myrobalan (Terminalia chebula) peel to remove the putridity of the humors and blood burning.

Rubbing Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) and rice flour to blacken the skin from its poultice.

Raw and not calcined Zarnikh should not be used orally. If someone is poisoned by eating it, make a drink from Rose Water, Saffron (Crocus sativus), Rock Candy and warm water and feed him or her with plenty of this drink plus Lepidium latifolium and Sweet Almond oil. So that he vomits several times. Then give him soaked water of rice and non-alcoholic beer and inject this liquid through his or her rectum to cleanse their bowl. Finally, feed him oily soups, sweet almond oil, fresh milk, Psyllium  glaze, Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) seed glaze, and Quince seed glaze.

 

🧾 Scientific Reference – Orpiment (As₂S₃ – Arsenic Trisulfide)

Chemical Name: Arsenic Trisulfide
Mineral Name: Orpiment
Chemical Formula: As₂S₃
Molecular Weight: ~246 g/mol
Appearance: Vivid yellow to orange crystalline masses
Natural Source: Hydrothermal veins, hot springs, and volcanic fumaroles
Purity (Natural): 90–99% arsenic trisulfide (regional variation)

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🔬 Scientific & Industrial Classification

Property	Description
CAS Number	1303-33-9
EINECS Number	215-117-4
Melting Point	~310°C (decomposes)
Solubility	Insoluble in water; soluble in alkali
Density	~3.49 g/cm³
Crystal System	Monoclinic
Other Names	King’s Yellow (obsolete), Arsenical Sulfide

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⚠️ Toxicological Profile

Exposure Route	Risk Level
Ingestion	Extremely toxic – causes organ failure
Inhalation	Hazardous – dust and fumes are poisonous
Skin Contact	Irritant – may cause burns or absorption
Chronic Exposure	Carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and hepatotoxic

🛑 Arsenic compounds are classified as Group 1 carcinogens by IARC.

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📜 Traditional & Historical Context (Not for Modern Use)

• Used in alchemical practices as a pigment or ritual element

• Mentioned in ancient Iranian, Indian, and Chinese systems in extremely small external-use quantities

• Applied in medieval manuscripts as “King’s Yellow” pigment (replaced due to toxicity)

💬 These historical uses are now considered unsafe and are prohibited in modern pharmacopoeias.

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🧪 Modern Applications (Non-Consumable Only)

• Semiconductor manufacturing (infrared optics, photoconductors)

• Artistic pigment studies (restoration of medieval manuscripts)

• Geochemical and metallurgical research

• Toxicology testing and mineralogical education

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📦 Storage & Handling Guidelines

• Store in sealed, clearly labeled hazardous materials containers

• Use nitrile gloves, safety goggles, and dust mask or respirator

• Do not inhale, ingest, or touch without full protection

• Keep away from acids, heat, and oxidizing agents

• Dispose in accordance with hazardous waste protocols

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📌 Legal & Regulatory Disclaimer

This material is not intended for human or animal consumption, dietary use, or cosmetic applications.
It is catalogued for industrial, mineralogical, and research reference purposes only.
ACPFOOD does not sell or promote Orpiment for herbal, culinary, or therapeutic use.
Compliance with local and international chemical safety regulations is required for all handling.

 

To order mineral Orpiment, please contact us.

 

 

Medical disclaimer