Idea and Ideal

Idea and Ideal Idea and Ideal Idea and Ideal By Maeve Maddox It may be a regionalism, but many speakers say or write ideal when they mean idea. For example: I have an ideal for next year’s Christmas: Move the date. Comic Silverman has an ideal for ending world hunger: Sell the Vatican. Do you have any ideals for how I can ease my fear of flying? The noun idea can be used with philosophical connotations, but as the word is used in ordinary conversation, it usually means â€Å"the picture or notion of something formed in the mind.† Here are some correct uses of idea: I have an idea for next year’s Christmas: Move the date. Comic Silverman has an idea for ending world hunger: Sell the Vatican. Do you have any ideas for how I can ease my fear of flying? I have an idea; let’s go to the movies. An inventor begins with an idea of the thing to be made. He wants to visit Paris, but the idea of flying makes him hesitate. As a noun, ideal means â€Å"a person or thing regarded as a perfect example or representative†: James Garner was the ideal of a Hollywood leading man with thick black hair, square jaw, perfect teeth, and a charming smile. The Grace Project: Transforming Our Ideal of Female Beauty The noun ideal is also an antonym of real used as an abstract noun: In politics as in personal matters, individuals must come to terms with the disparity between the ideal and the real. The notion of an ideal, of something, which for whatever reason, ought to be, as distinguished from what is. –J. Grote Ideal used as an adjective does not attract the misuse that haunts ideal as a noun. In the following examples ideal means, â€Å"regarded as perfect or supremely excellent in its kind†: Bond girl Bà ©rà ©nice Marlohe talks about her ideal man   What’s the ideal breed for a family dog? In an ideal world, prime ministers would indeed put great thought and effort into establishing a highly skilled, intellectually impressive, thoughtful and engaged Senate. But it’s not an ideal world.   Ideal can also mean â€Å"existing only in idea; not real, actual, or practical†: Administrators must compromise  between practical and ideal  solutions. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:English Grammar 101: All You Need to KnowPrecedent vs. PrecedenceKn- Words in English

Heavy Metals in Science - Definition and Examples

Heavy Metals in Science s In science, a  heavy metal is a metallic element which is toxic and has a high density, specific gravity or atomic weight. However, the term means something slightly different in common usage, referring to any metal capable of causing health problems or environmental damage. Examples of Heavy Metals Examples of heavy metals include lead, mercury and cadmium. Less commonly, any metal with a potential negative health effect or environmental impact may be termed a heavy metal, such as cobalt, chromium, lithium and even iron. Dispute over Heavy Metal Term According to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry or IUPAC, the term heavy metal may be a meaningless term because there is no standardized definition for a heavy metal. Some light metals or metalloids are toxic, while some high-density metals are not. For example, cadmium generally is considered a heavy metal, with an atomic number of 48 and specific gravity of 8.65, while gold typically is not toxic, even though it has an atomic number of 79 and specific gravity of 18.88. For a given metal, the toxicity varies widely depending on the allotrope or oxidation state of the metal. Hexavalent chromium is deadly; trivalent chromium is nutritionally significant in many organisms, including humans. Certain metals, such as copper, cobalt, chromium, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, selenium, and molybenum, may be dense and/or toxic, yet are required micronutrients for humans or other organisms. The essential heavy metals may be needed to support key enzymes, act as cofactors, or act in oxidation-reduction reactions. While necessary for health and nutrition, excess exposure to the elements can cause cellular damage and disease. Specifically, excess metal ions can interact with DNA, proteins, and cellular components, altering the cell cycle, leading to carcinogenesis, or causing cell death. Heavy Metals of Significance to Public Health Exactly how dangerous a metal is depends on several factors, including the dose and means of exposure. Metals affect species differently. Within a single species, age, gender, and genetic predisposition all play a role in toxicity. However, certain heavy metals are of grave concern because they can damage multiple organ systems, even at low exposure levels. These metals include: ArsenicCadmiumChromiumLeadMercury In addition to being toxic, these elemental metals are also known or probable carcinogens. These metals are common in the environment, occurring in air, food, and water. They occur naturally in water and soil. Additionally, they are released into the environment from industrial processes. Source: Heavy Metals Toxicity and the Environment, P.B. Tchounwou, C.G. Yedjou, A.J. Patlolla, D.J. Sutton, Molecular, Clinical and Environmental Toxicology  Volume 101 of the series  Experientia Supplementum  pp 133-164. Heavy metals a meaningless term? (IUPAC Technical Report)  John H. Duffus,  Pure Appl. Chem., 2002, Vol. 74, No. 5, pp. 793-807