Mercury Flashcards
In general, what are the sinks for heavy metals?
Soils and sediments
How are heavy metals mostly transported?
Through the air as particulates or gases
Which form of Hg is toxic?
The vapour, not the liquid
How is Hg released into the environment ?
When we are digging up fuel, it’s released back into the environment
Since Hg vapour is heavy, what is it most likely to do?
Stay put
Hg is most toxic when it’s with _____?
Small alkys
What is speciation?
Metal toxicity depends on the chemical species
Hg+alkyl are ________ molecules and are soluble in _____?
Covalent and animal tissue ( can pass through membranes)
Where is solid Hg extracted from?
HgS (cinnabar)
Hg is liquid at room temperature and is a good ______?
Electrical converter
Inhaling Hg vapour can pass the _____?
Blood brain barrier
- used to be used in the making of hats (mad as a hatter)
What was the main source of Hg in the environment but isn’t anymore?
Smelting
What is liquid Hg for other metals?
Solvent
- can dissolve other metals in Hg (alagam)
Why did dentist use Hg and other metals for fillings?
The Hg + metal would expand in the tooth
What precious metals were used with Hg to extract them?
Au and Ag
How can Hg be oxidized to get back into the environment?
Bacteria can oxidize Hg
- soluble form that can be taken up by fish
How do you get Hg out of water?
Soluble sulfides.
- when combined with Hg it will form a precipitate
What kind of Hg is present as a paste in button batteries?
HgO
Mercuric oxide to prevent the bad up of hydrogen
- not really used anymore
How eased back into the air (main source)?
By burning natural gas
What is RGM and how is it formed?
Reactive gaseous Mercury
Formed from the combustion of coal that reacts with Cl
What is the easiest way to remove Hg?
With a filter?
-but filters go to the landfill and so will the Hg
What is a Chem-mod?
Method of capturing Hg vapour with a liquid absorbent
Where is methyl mercury found?
Found in the sediments
How is methyl mercury formed?
Formed under anaerobic conditions by microorganisms
How do you make methyl mercury less volatile?
Add Cl or OH
- can get into fish and our food because it is volatile
Where does methyl mercury formed?
In organic rich sediments at the bottom of warm and shallow lakes
In what fish are you more likely to see a lot of Hg?
Bigger carnivorous fish that we old
How do metals differ from organics?
They aren’t degradable into non-toxic forms
