Mercury

Question 1

In general, what are the sinks for heavy metals?

Answer 1

Soils and sediments

Question 2

How are heavy metals mostly transported?

Answer 2

Through the air as particulates or gases

Question 3

Which form of Hg is toxic?

Answer 3

The vapour, not the liquid

Question 4

How is Hg released into the environment ?

Answer 4

When we are digging up fuel, it’s released back into the environment

Question 5

Since Hg vapour is heavy, what is it most likely to do?

Answer 5

Stay put

Question 6

Hg is most toxic when it’s with _____?

Answer 6

Small alkys

Question 7

What is speciation?

Answer 7

Metal toxicity depends on the chemical species

Question 8

Hg+alkyl are ________ molecules and are soluble in _____?

Answer 8

Covalent and animal tissue ( can pass through membranes)

Question 9

Where is solid Hg extracted from?

Answer 9

HgS (cinnabar)

Question 10

Hg is liquid at room temperature and is a good ______?

Answer 10

Electrical converter

Question 11

Inhaling Hg vapour can pass the _____?

Answer 11

Blood brain barrier

- used to be used in the making of hats (mad as a hatter)

Question 12

What was the main source of Hg in the environment but isn’t anymore?

Answer 12

Smelting

Question 13

What is liquid Hg for other metals?

Answer 13

Solvent

- can dissolve other metals in Hg (alagam)

Question 14

Why did dentist use Hg and other metals for fillings?

Answer 14

The Hg + metal would expand in the tooth

Question 15

What precious metals were used with Hg to extract them?

Answer 15

Au and Ag

Question 16

How can Hg be oxidized to get back into the environment?

Answer 16

Bacteria can oxidize Hg

- soluble form that can be taken up by fish

Question 17

How do you get Hg out of water?

Answer 17

Soluble sulfides.

- when combined with Hg it will form a precipitate

Question 18

What kind of Hg is present as a paste in button batteries?

Answer 18

HgO
Mercuric oxide to prevent the bad up of hydrogen
- not really used anymore

Question 19

How eased back into the air (main source)?

Answer 19

By burning natural gas

Question 20

What is RGM and how is it formed?

Answer 20

Reactive gaseous Mercury

Formed from the combustion of coal that reacts with Cl

Question 21

What is the easiest way to remove Hg?

Answer 21

With a filter?

-but filters go to the landfill and so will the Hg

Question 22

What is a Chem-mod?

Answer 22

Method of capturing Hg vapour with a liquid absorbent

Question 23

Where is methyl mercury found?

Answer 23

Found in the sediments

Question 24

How is methyl mercury formed?

Answer 24

Formed under anaerobic conditions by microorganisms

Question 25

How do you make methyl mercury less volatile?

Answer 25

Add Cl or OH

- can get into fish and our food because it is volatile

Question 26

Where does methyl mercury formed?

Answer 26

In organic rich sediments at the bottom of warm and shallow lakes

Question 27

In what fish are you more likely to see a lot of Hg?

Answer 27

Bigger carnivorous fish that we old

Question 28

How do metals differ from organics?

Answer 28

They aren’t degradable into non-toxic forms