lecture 3 inorganics

Question 1

Metals

Answer 1

Elements known for their lustrous
appearance, malleability, ductility and
conductivity. With the exception of
hydrogen, they make up the left two thirds
of the periodic table.

Question 2

Essential Metals

Answer 2

Cu, Zn, Co, Fe, Mn

Question 3

Nonessential Metals

Answer 3

Cd, Pb, Hg, As

Question 4

How Metals effect biology/toxicity

Answer 4

Exposure to nonessential metals, or to high doses
of essential metals can result in toxicity
*Free metal ions bind to biologically important
macromolecules
–change molecular function

Question 5

Speciation of Metals

Answer 5

Water chemistry is critically important in terms
of the toxicity of metal ions to aquatic
organisms
*Equally important is knowledge about the
speciation of the metal in the water of interest
*pH is often a factor determining speciation
*Metals bind to many ligand sites (carbon,
suspended particles, metal hydroxides of Al
and Fe, algae, etc.)
*Different metal species have different binding
affinities