A. Metals are often charged ions. B. Metals can be destroyed or degraded in the body. C. Metals easily bond to other molecules. D. Metals can have various oxidation states. Tutorial Elements Metals are elements, so they cannot be destroyed or broken down.
Metals can linger in the environment and in human bodies for long periods of time.
Many other toxic substances are compounds and can be broken down by the body to make them less toxic. Metals cannot be broken down to reduce toxicity. However some metals can be made less toxic by the addition of chemical groups to the metal. Species Metals can have different species with different amounts of charge and these charged atoms easily and quickly form complexes with enzymes and other biological molecules. The amount of charge also affects how easily the metal can get into cells.