Is the liquid or the vapor of mercury more toxic?
Quicksilver (liquid metallic mercury) is poorly absorbed by ingestion and skin contact. Its vapor is the most hazardous form.
How is mercury vapor produced?
Elemental mercury vapor is emitted into the atmosphere from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Although volcanoes are an important natural source, coal-burning power stations, and municipal waste incinerators make up the bulk of man-made contributions (40\% of the mercury emissions in the United States).
Why is inorganic mercury less toxic?
Inorganic Mercury Compounds The toxicity of mercury salts depends on their solubility. Generally, mercurous compounds are less toxic than mercuric compounds because they are less soluble in water.
Why are mercury compounds toxic?
As mentioned, elemental mercury vapor is highly lipid soluble which allows it to readily cross cellular membranes. It can also be oxidized to the mercuric state. Since mercuric salts form more soluble divalent compounds, these forms are more toxic than the mercurous salts that form monovalent mercury compounds.
What happens mercury vapor?
When dropped, elemental mercury breaks into smaller droplets which can go through small cracks or become strongly attached to certain materials. At room temperature, exposed elemental mercury can evaporate to become an invisible, odorless toxic vapor. If heated, it is a colorless, odorless gas.
Why the mercury vapor lamp is a negative resistance device?
The mercury vapor lamp is a negative resistance device. This means its resistance decreases as the current through the tube increases. So if the lamp is connected directly to a constant-voltage source like the power lines, the current through it will increase until it destroys itself.
Why is organic mercury more toxic than inorganic mercury?
All form of mercury are very toxic and high accumulation with food chain but organic mercury is absorbed by some amino acid . Any organic matter have the ability to react with the organic component of the cell or tissues. Mercury even organic or inorganic is very toxic.
Why organic mercury is more toxic than inorganic?
Organic mercury compounds are quite toxic as they tend to diffuse through the body and are easily absorbed through the skin, notably methyl mercury and dimethyl mercury are the most dangerous as they form conjugates with cysteine that mimic another amino acid methionine, which is then actively distributed through the …
Are all mercury compounds toxic?
Mercury exists in three forms: elemental mercury, inorganic mercury compounds (primarily mercuric chloride), and organic mercury compounds (primarily methyl mercury). All forms of mercury are quite toxic, and each form exhibits different health effects.