Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Reactivity
Whether it is commonly a cation or anion (or neither) in solution
Whether it is a metal or nonmetal
Electronegativity
Half-life
Toxicity
Ability to bind with common elements
Kind of bonding that is common (e.g., ionic, covalent)
Importance in biological processes
Phase (solid, liquid, or gas) at Earth surface temperature and pressure
Solubility in water—for elemental and ionic forms
Solubility in organic solvents
Volatility
Whether it has industrial applications (affects human extraction and dispersion)
How common it is
The locations where it is found in high concentrations without human alteration of its
cycle
Likelihood of its incorporation into living organisms
Likelihood of its binding with organic matter
Likelihood of its chelation and stability of chelates
Whether it bioaccumulates or biomagnifies
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