Context:
Five members of family poisoned with Thallium to death.
About Thallium:
- Globally known as Poisoner’s poison.
- Odour-less, colourless, tasteless chemical
- Grey post-transition metal
- Occurrence –
- It is not found free in nature.
- Found in Pyrites ore
- Obtained as a by-product of copper, zinc and lead refining
- Present in manganese nodules found on the ocean floor
- It is a slow-acting poison.
- Uses –
- Used in science laboratories and chemical industries, radiology tests in hospitals etc.
- Used in photoresistors, infrared optical equipment, low melting glasses
- Thallium sulfate – used as a rodent and ant killer
- Thallium salts – used in the treatment of skin diseases
- Threats – Employed for malicious purposes, often to target enemies or prisoners.
- Prussian blue (a suspected carcinogen) – An effective antidote to Thallium
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
With reference to polyethylene terephthalate, the use of which is so widespread in our daily lives, consider the following statements:
1. Its fibres can be blended with wool and cotton fibres to reinforce their properties.
2. Containers made of it can be used to store any alcoholic beverage.
3. Bottles made of it can be recycled into other products.
4. Articles made of it can be easily disposed of by incineration without causing greenhouse gas emissions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
