mercury-silver+class+'09

Mercury
Bianca Nigro & Megan Doe

**Abstract**:
Mercury is a common household item, it is known of all over the world. It is unique simply because it has the ability to alloy with most metals. This is useful in making dental fillings. Its unique physical properties make it easy to work with. It can be either solid or liquid, depending on the temperature it is exposed to. Mercury is found in many common household items such as light switches since it can conduct electricity, paints since it helps give the paint color, thermometers, and batteries because it can store energy. Mercury is very convenient because it is as common as silver, making it easy to get hands on. Thus, mercury is also very cheap, depending on where one orders it from it can be as low as 36 cents a gram. It is used everywhere around the world, but people are well aware it can be hazardous. A few places have banned it for they think it is dangerous. Minnesota banned it when it was intentionally put into eye mascara exposing it so close to a person’s eye. Also, dental mercury was banned in Norway, Sweden, Denmark because they think the mercury in fillings would eventually become hazardous to their patients. As a result, mercury is a very common and useful element but can be harmful if handled carelessly or by one who is uneducated about it.

Mercury can affect the body in various ways when it becomes poisonous. There are two forms of mercury poisoning; acute and chronic. Acute affects the body first by coughing, tight chest, and causing an upset stomach. Acute mercury poisoning can lead to pneumonia, which can be fatal. If inorganic mercury compounds are swallowed, nausea, vomiting, and sever kidney damage can occur to the body. Chronic can cause nerve damage, personality disorder, and can make the gums becomes spongy in which the teeth become loose or even fall out. If exposed to inorganic mercury, the reproductive system can be affect. Mothers that are exposed can give birth to children that may have birth defects. Simple bits of mercury such as the mercury found in dental fillings or that are found in fish that people eat are not able to harm the body. Selenium in the body has high binding affinity for mercury. With this the body is unable to process both the mercury and the mercury connecting with the selenium. Therefore it is not harmful. Mercury is bad for the environment because it is polluted with Methyl mercury, which is formed by mercury. It is important that no one is in contact with big amounts of mercury and if it needs to be exposed of, it must be done professionally. Mercury does not degrade because it is an element, therefore it cannot be destroyed either.

In my opinion, mercury is not bad. People are simply uneducated about it. It is very useful and used for many things common household items. It can be hazardous if handled incorrectly, which is a problem. I’d advise simple lessons on how to handle mercury if exposed to it. These simple lessons could be done once a year in a science class at school. As far as I can see, mercury in fish and dental fillings haven’t had any affect on humans even though it could end up affecting humans in the future. Right now it isn’t a threat, so as long as it is needed, cheap, and convenient it should be used for the great things it does for everyone.

**Background:**
-How/why do we use this chemical? It has the ability to alloy with most metals, making it great to use in dental fillings. It is very convenient to use in many products found in a household.

-What products is it used in? - Mercury is found in light switches, it conducts electricity. - It is used in paints; it helps give the paint color - It is used in thermometers - It is found in batteries because it can store energy - It is in florescent lights because it reacts with the argon gasses

-What benefits does this chemical offer these products? Its unique physical properties make it easy to work with. It can be either solid or liquid, depending on the temperature it is exposed to. It is as common as silver, making it easy to get hands on. It is also cheap. Depending on where you order it from it can be 36 cents a gram.

-Where in the world is it used? It is used everywhere, but people are aware it can be hazardous.

-Is it banned anywhere? -Minnesota banned it when it was intentio nally but into eye mascara. - Dental mercury banned in Norway, Sweden, Denmark

Synthesis / Production:
-How is the chemical made/refined? Mercury ores are formed underground when warm mineral solutions rise to the earth’s surface caused by volcanic acid. Mercury is found in cinnabar ore and it is crushed and heated to release the mercury vapor. The vapor is cooled, condensed, and collected. -How are common products that contain this chemical made? When making florescent lights, they gather glass tubes, add different gasses to the tubes, put a drop of mercury into the tubes and then they add the electrical prongs to cap off the tube. When the light is turned on the mercury reacts with the argon gasses, which creates the ultra violet light. -Mercury is not made in a laboratory it is found and refined.

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http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/hg.html

Economical/ Political Impact
-What/who would be affected if the chemical were banned? If mercury was banned it would affect the production of batteries, thermometer’s, fluorescent lights, and dental fillings. If it was banned it would hurt the makers of the products because their products wouldn’t be as efficient as they are with mercury. People who use these products will also be affected, for example dental patients will not have dental fillings. -What are the costs of alternatives? Each product contains different alternatives instead of using a mercury thermometers ($19.99), use electronic thermometers ($9.00). If mercury were to be banned all over it would cost people who work mining mercury to loose their jobs also. -What products would we not have if it were banned? I believe that we would still have all the products because there are alternatives for all the products that have mercury in it. -What countries export and/or use this product? Spain and Italy produce most of the world’s mercury. Some countries like Norway and Sweden banned mercury in dental fillings so we are on the move towards banning mercury in products. -How would a ban affect you (or the average American)? I don’t think that it would affect anyone because of the fact that there are alternatives for products containing mercury. The only problem that I can see happening is maybe the expense of using the alternatives -What are the political ramifications of banning this chemical? If mercury was banned I don’t think that it would bother the average American but it may cause probles with factories that use it to produce products because it could possibly decrease the proformance of the product.

Human health implications
-What are the possible dangers associated with this chemical? -How, specifically, does this chemical affect the body? -What human body processes are affected by this chemical? -What human systems are affected by this chemical? (eg reproductive, endocrine) -Include chemical reactions that take place in the body.

Mercury poisoning. There are two forms acute and chronic. Acute: The first signs can be coughing, tight chest, and upset stomach. This can lead to pneumonia, which can be fatal. I f inorganic mercury compounds are swallowed, nausea, vomiting, and sever kidney damage can occur. Chronic: Cause nerve damage, personality disorder, and can make the gums become spongy and teeth become loose. The reproductive system can be affect by exposure to mercury. Mothers that are exposed can give birth to children that may have birth def ects. Selenium in the body has high binding affinity for mercury. With this the body is unable to process both the mercury and the mercury connecting with the selenium. Therefore fishes and such don’t have enough mercury to poison humans.

**Environmental implications**:
-What specific environmental systems/processes does your chemical interact with? -How does the chemical interacts with the environment?-What happens when this chemical degrades? What byproducts are formed? -How long does it take to degrade? -How is it disposed of?

Mercury pollutes the environment; it forms Methyl mercury, which is processed through out the food chain. Mercury must be professionally disposed of. Does not degrade because it is an element, therefore it cannot be destroyed either.

**Public Service Announcement:**
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