[billsauce]

Mercury is a toxic substance, especially hazardous when it is present in +1 or +2 states?
mercury is a toxic substance, especially hazardous when it is present in +1 or +2 states. By using cell potentials, explain why swallowing mercury isn't as hazardous as people think.

2Hg2+ + 2e- ---> Hg2 2+ (v=.91)
Hg2 2+ +2e- ---> 2Hg (v=.80)

[ramboacid]

Well, first of all, what do you think?

I would guess it's because mercury is very nonreactive seeing its relatively high standard reduction potential, so it probably doesn't react in the body. Also, the problem said mercury ions were dangerous, while liquid mercury is composed of electrically neutral atoms which are hard to oxidize.

However, that's really really really just a guess. Someone more knowledgeable than me would probably know 

[billsauce]

it seems like a good guess, that is what i thought in the beginning too. it is a weird question and i dont get it

[Duzzy]

I know that mercury vapors are extremely dangerous. maybe that has something to do with it?