Arsenic Poisoning Is a Serious Problem in Bangladesh, China, and Chile

Multiple Choice

Arsenic poisoning is a serious problem in Bangladesh, China, and Chile, resulting from contaminated well water. When arsenic poisoning occurs, arsenic binds to proteins and eventually causes cellular damage. This leads to a variety of symptoms in humans including exhaustion, muscle weakness, organ failure, and cancer. Arsenic poisoning is commonly treated with a drug called dimercaprol (or BAL) that binds arsenic. This process sets up a competing equilibrium within the body. Once arsenic reacts to form a complex with BAL, it can be excreted from the body. How does treatment with BAL affect the equilibrium shown below? Arsenic-protein complex Arsenic + proteins + BAL Arsenic-BAL complex

A) Adding BAL does not affect the equilibrium.
B) Adding BAL pushes the reaction to the left.
C) Adding BAL pushes the reaction to the right.
D) Adding BAL causes less arsenic-BAL to be made.
E) Adding BAL causes more arsenic-protein complex to be made.