Organic Chemistry Case Study

1.Chemical properties

Elemental mercury (Hg) has an atomic weight of 200.59 u, oxidation states 0, +1 and +2. Is a liquid and volatile metal soluble in water to some extents? In the oxidation states +1 and +2 is able to form organic compounds of type RHgX and R2Hg where R can be alkyl- or Aryl groups. The RHgX compounds properties depend on the nature of the X rest; If the organic compound contents hologenides the result is a highly lipophilic compound whereas If the rest is oxygen anion, chemically stable, thermally labile and light sensitive compounds are formed. Nevertheless, away from the properties differences, both kind of compounds are crystalline.

Inorganic mercury (Hg+ or Hg2+) in mercury salts also get formed. Salts of mercury (I)

5.2 Acute toxicity

Acute intoxication by the inhalation of mercury vapour affects mainly to the lungs; Patients suffer from respiratory insufficiency, interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary emphysema. These respiratory symptoms can lead to more serious ones such as insufflation of the mediastinal connective tissue. Apart from respiratory symptoms, fever and headache are also frequent. This clinical presentation can be observed after several hours of exposure to mercury vapour at levels around 1.3 Hg/m3. These symptoms are unlikely to be observed below concentration of 0,1 Hg/m3.

Metallic mercury when is taken orally is normally not very harmful.

After oral uptake of mercury (II) salts erosive damages of the oral and nasal cavities and oesophagus often accompanied with nausea and vomiting. When salts reach the stomach and small intestine gastroenteritis develops with losses of protein and electrolytes which can lead to a fatal shock. According to kidneys, the patient can suffer from polyuria followed by oliguria or anuria and uraemia and finally kidney failure can

Symptoms of children are exhibited the following symptoms: prolonged persistence of primitive reflexes, mental impairment, retarded growth and development, disturbance in mastication and swallowing, disturbance in motility and impairment of coordination (ataxia), and constriction of the visual fields. If the symptoms appear in the early stages of development or later and the seriousness of the symptoms depends on the maternal blood-mercury concentrations. Maternal blood levels of 50ng Hg/ml are considered as a threshold value for the onset of neurological symptoms. Nevertheless, teratogenic effects of mercury (II) salts are known from animal’s studies and it is unknown if that can be applied to