Question

Which characteristic distinguishes heavy metals in the periodic table?

• A. Low densities, atomic numbers, and atomic weights
• B. High densities, atomic numbers, and atomic weights
• C. Specific radioactive isotopes
• D. Unusual chemical reactivity

Answer 1

Answer:

B. High densities, atomic numbers, and atomic weights

• Heavy metal contamination which poses a serious threat to living organisms of aquatic and soil ecosystems.

• Heavy metals are a distinct group of metals that possess comparatively high densities, atomic numbers, and atomic weights within the periodic table.

• Heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As) are considered to pose a significant threat to untargeted living entities due to their toxicity character, even at low concentrations.

• Heavy metals are released into the environment from various sources including mining, urbanization, chemical industry, sewage plants, pesticide plants, biomedical and unsafe agricultural practices.