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Loss of Mercury(II) from Solution
Author(s) -
Newton D. W.,
Ellis Roscoe
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1974.00472425000300010006x
Subject(s) - mercury (programming language) , chemistry , environmental chemistry , mercure , tracer , mineralogy , analytical chemistry (journal) , physics , nuclear physics , computer science , programming language
Loss of mercury(II) from dilute solutions was studied using 203 Hg(II) as a tracer. Magnitude and rate of loss depend on Hg(II) concentration, chemical composition of carrier solutions, and container material. Losses were severe only at Hg(II) concentrations of 10 −6 M (0.2 ppm) or lower. Of the Hg‐containing solutions studied, loss was greatest from 0.01 M CaCl 2 ; Hg(II) was stable at all levels in concentrated HNO 3 . Increasing pH from 4 to 8 appeared to reduce Hg loss. Adding KMnO 4 also reduced losses. Glass and plastic containers differ in their ability to retain Hg(II) in solution. The problem of Hg loss has serious implications in analyses of Hg as an environmental contaminant and in research where low concentrations of Hg are used.