What are heavy metals?
Q: What are heavy metals?
A: Heavy metals are metals or chemical compounds containing metals with relatively high density, high atomic weights, or atomic numbers. This might mean up to 96 out of the 118 known chemical elements. Examples include mercury, lead and bismuth.
Q: What is the density of heavy metals?
A: Heavy metals have a density of more than 5 g/cm3 and they are all denser than iron.
Q: Are all heavy metals toxic?
A: No, not all heavy metals are toxic. For example, gold is one of the heaviest metals but it is non-toxic and chemically inert in the body. Some gold compounds can be toxic though.
Q: How many elements make up heavy metal?
A: Up to 96 out of the 118 known chemical elements make up heavy metal.
Q: What is the heaviest metal by density?
A: The heaviest metal by density is osmium.
Q: Where do most heavy metals come from?
A: Most heavy metals come from Earth's crust because most have sunk into the Earth's core.
Q: How are heavy metals used in modern life?
A: Heavy Metals are used in modern life for various purposes such as golf clubs, cars, antiseptics, self-cleaning ovens, plastics, solar panels, mobile phones and particle accelerators.
