How Do Covalent Bonds Affect the Toxicity of Heavy Metals?
In the context of heavy metals, covalent bonds often play a role in their toxicity. Metals such as mercury, cadmium, and arsenic can form covalent bonds with thiol groups in proteins, disrupting protein function and leading to cellular damage. The ability of these metals to form covalent bonds with biological molecules is a key factor in their toxicological profiles.