Abstract
The Group 12 consists of zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg). These metals have quite a low abundance in the Earth’s crust. These metals form compounds in which their oxidation states are usually not higher than +2 and easily form metal-metal (+M-M+) bonds (Table II-12.1). The strength of the bond increases down the group, in the following order: Hg < Cd < Zn. The Zn 2+2 and Cd 2+2 ions are highly unstable, however, the +1 state of Hg is quite stable compared with the other two elements. The toxicity of Cd and Hg is well known, whereas Zn has enormous biological importance.
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© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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(2007). Trace Elements of Group 12 (Previously Group IIb). In: Trace Elements from Soil to Human. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-32714-1_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-32714-1_19
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-32713-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-32714-1
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