h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A20074529
Hi, I just got your entry on gold and silver and copper to edit - haven't done anything yet, but it reminded me of a question I had a long time ago in high school chem.

We were tracing the decomposition of some radioactive elements and I noticed that certain elements pass through gold. Are there any elements that stabilize in gold? If not, could one take radioactive gold before it decomposes and sell it - or would that not fool anyone?

I need to think about that Q, Leo. There was a rumour that the Russians had discovered gold on the walls of the nuclear reactor in Dubna - bust western scientists were sceptical. I'll try and remember to try and difg out this info.

Any news on the gold?

A coupla questions about your entry:

>>Hence, attack by most reagents (such as oxygen or acids) is slow;

- You kinda dive into the topic in the first paragraph rather rapidly. Would you mind explaining this concept in the simplest words possible, for the non-chemist reader?




>>Conversely, reduction of their compounds to the metal is easiest for gold, and diminishes through silver to copper.

- do you mean purifying it?





>>One can easily imagine that coins made of iron or steel would not last too long, given the common male habit of jingling coins in the trouser pocket! .

- why? What would jingling do to them?




>>like the alkali metals, and would therefore be expected to give univalent ions<<

- it's been a long time... what's univalent? and why would a metal give oan ion of that description?






Skip down to compounds of copper:

>>and so the equilibrium is well over to the right hand side

- the significance of which is what?





Skip to uses of copper:

>> staphylococci

- oddest link I've ever seen... You do the same thing with Welsh Gold. Are these h2g2 links that I can find, or do you need to dig them up somewhers?

Hello Leo,

I haven't yet got around to finding out about the gold.

'"Hence, attack by most reagents (such as oxygen or acids) is slow;

- You kinda dive into the topic in the first paragraph rather rapidly..."

Well, this is adequately explained in the LINK to the 'Reactivity Series', given in the sentence above.


"Conversely, reduction of their compounds to the metal is easiest for gold, and diminishes through silver to copper".

Insert FOOTNOTE that, 'Reduction in the chemical sense means a 'reduction in oxidation number' (and link to A1118297).


"One can easily imagine that coins made of iron or steel would not last too long, given the common male habit of jingling coins in the trouser pocket! .

- why? What would jingling do to them?"

Well, they would corrode in one's sweaty, salty palms.




>>like the alkali metals, and would therefore be expected to give univalent ions<<

- it's been a long time... what's univalent?

Univalent means an ion with a single positive charge - due to loss of a single outer shell electron.

"and so the equilibrium is well over to the right hand side

- the significance of which is what?"

The concentration of copper (II) ions in the solution will be much greater than the concentration of copper (i) ions)

Actually, there is an error (omission) in the equation above. It should say:

2Cu+ > CU2+ + Cu





"Skip to uses of copper:

>> staphylococci

- oddest link I've ever seen"

I couldn't find that one.

The link to Welsh Gold was to an external (non h2g2) site, and was working when I tested it (before it was picked). I'll try to send you a new link..



I want to rejig the section about 'Antimicrobial Properties...' as there was some additional infpormation in this month's 'Chemistry World' which I'd like to add in. I'll send you a new section this evening

Hi Leo,

Sorry to trouble you with this but,m as I said, I've found new info which I'd like to incorporate.

Please could ypou move the section called 'Antimicrobial Properties of Silver' so that it comes immediately before the section entitled 'Copper, Silver and Gold as oinage Metals'.

Also change it to read as follows (Actually, this essentially just means adding a section on copper):

Antibacterial Properties of Group 12 Elements

Copper has a history of medical use that goes back to the dawn of recorded history. The Egyptians, for example, used verdigris – a basic copper ethanoate, which is a blue-green coating formed on copper in contact with air and vinegar fumes (vinegar is a dilute solution of ethanoic acid) – for treating eye infections.
A manuscript, known as the Smith papyrus The Edwin Smith or Ebers Papyrus is ancient Egyptian medical ‘textbook’, which is believed to be a copy of a work dating from c. 3000 BC. which dates from 2600-2200 BC, records the use of copper salts as sterilizers for drinking water and for dressing wounds.
The Greeks, who obtained their copper from Cyprus The Latin name for copper (A3768672) cuprum, derives from the Roman name for Cyprus, Cyprium, as copper mining there dates back to ancient times. recommended copper oxide mixed with honey as an antiseptic. . Pliny opined that copper oxide was excellent for clearing the stomach., due to its purgative properties.. Copper is also the active ingredient in Bordeaux mixture, used to protect grape vines from fungal infection.
Much more recently, scientists at the University of Southampton, UK, discovered that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) die with an hour or so of coming into contact with copper surfaces, whereas they will survive for days on stainless steel. It has further been discovered that brass – an alloy of copper with zinc – performs even better in this role. This phenomenon is being exploited by Birmingham Hospital, UK, who are replacing all their metal fittings (door handles, taps, toilet flushes and handrails) with copper or brass ones, in an 18 month trial to see if it reduces the present high levels of MRSA infections.
Silver has also been long famed for its antiseptic properties. Early records indicate that the Phoenicians used silver vessels to keep water, wine and vinegar pure during long voyages. More recently, the American pioneers moving west put silver and copper coins into water barrels to keep it pure.
The phrase 'to be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth' refers to the fact that babies fed using silver spoons in the 1800s were generally healthier than those fed using utensils made from cheaper metals7.
'Lunar caustic' is a stick form of silver nitrate, used against warts8.
Nowadays, some authorities are considering using it to sanitise swimming pools in place of chlorine.
In 2005, scientists in the United Kingdom began experimenting with surgical dressings containing metallic silver thread, in the hope that it can eradicate MRSA cross-infection in hospitals.
Bringing the story right up to date, there is interest in the antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles and structured nanosurfaces, these being among the first commercial applications of the emerging science of nanotechnology.


Many thanks,

A

The 'staphylococci' link can be to A4552544 (Tampon-Related TSS)

.... and the 'Welsh Gold' can be to...

...http://www.wales-calling.com/mining.htm

Thanks!

I'll get it done before next weekend.

Leo,

Please could you add a para about Wilson’s Disease, to go immediately after this para:

“Like any other chemical, too much can be deleterious ('The dose makes the poison' - Paracelsus). It is possible to create a 'living histogram' by growing wheat seedlings in steadily increasing concentrations of copper ions; the average heights of the seedlings increases to a maximum, and then declines as the copper ion concentration increases beyond the healthy dosage level”.

Then add:
In humans, a build-up of copper in the body tissues is responsible for a condition called Wilson’s Disease – a genetic condition which affects 1 in 30,000 people worldwide. This is thought to be associated with a reduction in the body’s ability to manufacture ceruloplasmin, a protein which normally carries copper around in the blood.
Diagnosis of this condition can be difficult, but can be aided by finding a characteristic rusty brown ring around the cornea of the eye, called the Kayser-Fleischer ring.
At present, there is no cure for Wilson’s Disease, and it can cause brain damage, liver failure and, eventually death if left unmanaged. This is achieved with a low-copper diet and vitamin B6 supplements. Drugs are also available to help remove excess copper from body tissues.

There is a BBC Link at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/wilsons1.shtml

OK, I lied. It won't be done that fast.

Question, about fixing this equation:

2Cu+ > CU2+ + Cu

there are two equations 'above', and especially in GuideML, it's all Greek to me. Could you specify exactly which part of which equation this is supposed to replace?


Otherwise, I think I got everything.

'Question, about fixing this equation:

2Cu+ > CU2+ + Cu'



It replaces the equation below this sentence:

The copper (I) ion in solution disproportionates to become copper (II) ions and metallic copper:

2Cu+&#8594; Cu2+

So,

2Cu+&#8594; Cu2+ > 2Cu+ > Cu2+ + Cu

(I've put in the GML for you in the replacement. )

Also, please could you change this Header to read as shown:

Antibacterial Properties of Silver > Antibacterial Properties of Group 11 Elements.

(ta>

Just by way of tidying up a bit (i.e I've alluded to the antibacterial properties of copper in two places),please could you:

'Copper has a history of medical use that goes back to the dawn of recorded history. The Egyptians, for example, used verdigris – a basic copper ethanoate, which is a blue-green coating formed on copper in contact with air and vinegar fumes (vinegar is a dilute solution of ethanoic acid) – for treating eye infections.

>Copper has a history of medical use that goes back to the dawn of recorded history. THE ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF MALACHITE HAVE BEEN ALLUDED TO EARLIER. FURTHERMORE, the ANCIENT Egyptians, ALSO, used verdigris – a basic copper ethanoate, which is a blue-green coating formed on copper in contact with air and vinegar fumes (vinegar is a dilute solution of ethanoic acid) – for treating eye infections.


(Also, the last sentence is a bit tortuous. It may be better to put. 'which is a blue-green coating formed on copper in contact with air and vinegar fumes (vinegar is a dilute solution of ethanoic acid)' as a FOOTNOTE )

BTW, I meant to say, you're doing a grand job on editing this, Leo

Thanks. It's always harder with a specialist subject. Can you just double check the equation again, and then I'll give it a final run through and send it back? I'm afraid its taken rather long.

'fraid that equation is still wrong, Leo.
It should read:

2Cu+ > Cu2+ + Cu.

Also, where I've put:

'...exploited by Birmingham Hospital, UK....', please could you modify it to read:

'...exploited by University Hospital, Birmingham NHS Trust...'

There is a hyperlink for this, which is:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1509513.ece



We'll get that equation right in the end

Do check again. Thanks.

Yes, you've cracked it this time Leo

Many s

Done and done!

Leo, you seem to have forwarded the wrong version. The version that's been r'Returned from the Sub-Editor' has the bit about 'University Hospital, Birmingham NHS Trust' missing.