3. The concentrations of copper and lead were determined as an average of the va

Question

3. The concentrations of copper and lead were determined as an average of the values for three systems. The results for these two metals are reported in ppm and ppb. The highest concentration for copper was 0.110 ppm and the highest for lead was 2 ppb. Are these values similar? Which substance is present in the greater concentration? Assuming that the amounts that are found in water do not exceed limits set for human health, which of these two metals must be more toxic, the one that is present in the greater or the lower concentration? Explain your reasoning.

Explanation / Answer

The copper metal was in 0.11 ppm while lead as 2 ppb.

Ppm stands for parts per million and ppb stands for parts per billion.

1 ppm = 1000 ppb.

Hence copper is in excess as compared to lead.

Copper can be lethal for human health and the safe amount of copper is 2 g/ litres.

If copper is less than that it wont create any issue to human health.

Lead content should be less than 15 ppb.

Hence from the limits of copper and lead one can understand that as lead required in drinking water is in parts per billion while for copper in grams, its clear that how hazardous lead is.

The one which is in lower amount is more toxic, lead.

Toxic metals sometimes imitate the action of an essential element in the body, interfering with the metabolic process resulting in illness.

Most often the definition of toxic metals includes at least cadmium, manganese, lead, mercury and the radioactive metals.

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