Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Inorganic Chemicals > Elements > Metals, Heavy Terms and Definitions




Metals, Heavy

Medical Definition: Metals with high specific gravity, typically larger than 5. They have complex spectra, form colored salts and double salts, have a low electrode potential, are mainly amphoteric, yield weak bases and weak acids, and are oxidizing or reducing agents (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)
Guide Notes: GEN: prefer specifics
Previously Indexed: Metals or specifics (1966-1996)
Metals, Heavy Categories.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Antimony - A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Sb, atomic number 51, and atomic weight 121.75. It is used as a metal alloy and as medicinal and poisonous salts. It is toxic and an irritant to the skin and the mucous membranes.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Bismuth - A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Bi, atomic number 83 and atomic weight 208.98.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Cadmium - An element with atomic symbol Cd, atomic number 48, and atomic weight 114. It is a metal and ingestion will lead to CADMIUM POISONING.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Chromium - A trace element that plays a role in glucose metabolism. It has the atomic symbol Cr, atomic number 24, and atomic weight 52. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP85-002,1985), chromium and some of its compounds have been listed as known carcinogens.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Cobalt - A trace element that is a component of vitamin B12. It has the atomic symbol Co, atomic number 27, and atomic weight 58.93. It is used in nuclear weapons, alloys, and pigments. Deficiency in animals leads to anemia; its excess in humans can lead to erythrocytosis.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Copper - A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Gallium - A rare, metallic element designated by the symbol, Ga, atomic number 31, and atomic weight 69.72.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Germanium - A rare metal element with a blue-gray appearance and atomic symbol Ge, atomic number 32, and atomic weight 72.59.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Gold - A yellow metallic element with the atomic symbol Au, atomic number 79, and atomic weight 197. It is used in jewelry, goldplating of other metals, as currency, and in dental restoration. Many of its clinical applications are in the form of its salts.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Hafnium - Hafnium. A metal element of atomic number 72 and atomic weight 178.49, symbol Hf. (From Dorland, 28th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Indium - A metallic element, atomic number 49, atomic weight 114.82, symbol In. It is named from its blue line in the spectrum. (From Dorland, 28th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Iridium - A metallic element with the atomic symbol Ir, atomic number 77, and atomic weight 192.22.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Iron - A metallic element found in certain minerals, in nearly all soils, and in mineral waters. It has the atomic symbol Fe, atomic number 26, and atomic weight 55.85. It is an essential constituent of hemoglobin, cytochrome, and other components of respiratory enzyme systems. Its chief functions are in the transport of oxygen to tissue (hemoglobin) and in cellular oxidation mechanisms. Depletion of iron stores may result in iron-deficiency anemia. Iron is used to build up the blood in anemia. (From Dorland, 27th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Lead - A soft, grayish metal with poisonous salts; atomic number 82, atomic weight 207.19, symbol Pb. (Dorland, 28th)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Manganese - A trace element with atomic symbol Mn, atomic number 25, and atomic weight 54.94. It is concentrated in cell mitochondria, mostly in the pituitary gland, liver, pancreas, kidney, and bone, influences the synthesis of mucopolysaccharides, stimulates hepatic synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids, and is a cofactor in many enzymes, including arginase and alkaline phosphatase in the liver. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual 1992, p2035)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Mercury - A silver metallic element that exists as a liquid at room temperature. It has the atomic symbol Hg (from hydrargyrum, liquid silver), atomic number 80, and atomic weight 200.59. Mercury is used in many industrial applications and its salts have been employed therapeutically as purgatives, antisyphilitics, disinfectants, and astringents. It can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes which leads to MERCURY POISONING. Because of its toxicity, the clinical use of mercury and mercurials is diminishing.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Molybdenum - A metallic element with the atomic symbol Mo, atomic number 42, and atomic weight 95.94. It is an essential trace element, being a component of the enzymes xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and nitrate reductase. (From Dorland, 27th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Nickel - Nickel. A trace element with the atomic symbol Ni, atomic number 28, and atomic weight 58.69. It is a cofactor of the enzyme urease.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Niobium - Niobium. A metal element atomic number 41, atomic weight 92.906, symbol Nb. (From Dorland, 28th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Osmium - Osmium. A very hard, gray, toxic, and nearly infusible metal element, atomic number 76, atomic weight 190.2, symbol Os. (From Dorland, 28th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Palladium - A chemical element having an atomic weight of 106.4, atomic number of 46, and the symbol Pd. It is a white, ductile metal resembling platinum, and following it in abundance and importance of applications. It is used in dentistry in the form of gold, silver, and copper alloys.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Platinum - Platinum. A heavy, soft, whitish metal, resembling tin, atomic number 78, atomic weight 195.09, symbol Pt. (From Dorland, 28th ed) It is used in manufacturing equipment for laboratory and industrial use. It occurs as a black powder (platinum black) and as a spongy substance (spongy platinum) and may have been known in Pliny's time as "alutiae".
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Rhenium - Rhenium. A metal, atomic number 75, atomic weight 186.2, symbol Re. (Dorland, 28th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Rhodium - Rhodium. A hard and rare metal of the platinum group, atomic number 45, atomic weight 102.905, symbol Rh. (Dorland, 28th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Ruthenium - A hard, brittle, grayish-white rare earth metal with an atomic symbol Ru, atomic number 44, and atomic weight 101.07. It is used as a catalyst and hardener for PLATINUM and PALLADIUM.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Silver - Silver. An element with the atomic symbol Ag, atomic number 47, and atomic weight 107.87. It is a soft metal that is used medically in surgical instruments, dental prostheses, and alloys. Long-continued use of silver salts can lead to a form of poisoning known as ARGYRIA.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Tantalum - Tantalum. A rare metallic element, atomic number 73, atomic weight 180.948, symbol Ta. It is a noncorrosive and malleable metal that has been used for plates or disks to replace cranial defects, for wire sutures, and for making prosthetic devices. (Dorland, 28th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Thallium - A heavy, soft, bluish white metal, atomic number 81, atomic weight 204.37, symbol Tl. (From Dorland, 28th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Tin - A trace element that is required in bone formation. It has the atomic symbol Sn, atomic number 50, and atomic weight 118.71.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Tungsten - Tungsten. A metallic element with the atomic symbol W, atomic number 74, and atomic weight 183.85. It is used in many manufacturing applications, including increasing the hardness, toughness, and tensile strength of steel; manufacture of filaments for incandescent light bulbs; and in contact points for automotive and electrical apparatus.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Vanadium - Vanadium. A metallic element with the atomic symbol V, atomic number 23, and atomic weight 50.94. It is used in the manufacture of vanadium steel. Prolonged exposure can lead to chronic intoxication caused by absorption usually via the lungs.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Zinc - A metallic trace element that has the atomic symbol Zn, atomic number 30, and atomic weight 65.38. It is necessary in the diet, forms an essential part of many enzymes, and plays an important role in protein synthesis and in cell division. Zinc deficiency is associated with anemia, short stature, hypogonadism, impaired wound healing, and geophagia. (From Dorland, 27th ed)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Zirconium - Zirconium. A rather rare metallic element, atomic number 40, atomic weight 91.22, symbol Zr. (From Dorland, 28th ed)

Metals, Heavy Medical Definitions and Terms

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