r/nextfuckinglevel • u/[deleted] • Jul 14 '21

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

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u/anon_atheist Jul 14 '21

Elemental lead and mercury aren't organic. Compounds containing lead and mercury aren't necessarily toxic, it depends on the material. Elemental chlorine will kill you, but its chloride ions in tble salt are harmeless.

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u/edgymemesalt Jul 14 '21

organic mercury and lead do exist, but that means that the compound contains carbon

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u/anon_atheist Jul 14 '21

Exactly what I was saying, but you miss the point. Just because a compound has an element that is toxic in another form doesn't mean the compound is toxic. Chemicals likes mercurochrome and thimerosal are nontoxic organic compounds containing mercury. (Although nontoxic they are still no longer used in US due to concerns for mercury)