The dark history of arsenic – Neil Bradbury

Dig into the history of arsenic dating back to ancient civilizations, and find out why this element is known as the king of poisons.

No substance has been as constant an ally to insidious scheming as arsenic, the so-called “king of poisons.” In its chemically pure form, it isn’t much of a threat because our bodies don’t absorb it well; it’s when arsenic combines with other elements that things get dangerous. So, how did this substance become such a popular poison? Neil Bradbury digs into the element’s sordid and lethal history.

Lesson by Neil Bradbury, directed by Luisa Holanda.