trace metal
Tiny metallic quantity
A trace metal is a metal present in very small quantities, typically in biological systems, soil, or water.
Some trace metals like iron, zinc, and copper are essential nutrients required in minute amounts for proper body function: The blood test revealed low levels of several trace metals.
In environmental contexts, trace metals may be pollutants monitored for toxicity.
- ironElement twenty-six
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- zincElement thirty
- mercuryLiquid metallic element
- molybdenumElement forty-two
antimony · copper · vanadium · cobalt · cadmium · manganese · arsenic · thallium · micronutrient · selenium · spectrophotometry · beryllium · bioaccumulation · ocean chemistry · drinking water · environmental monitoring · chromium · uranium
trace metalmacronutrient
Nutrient required in quantity
calcium · magnesium · potassium · sodium · phosphorus
trace, metal, traces, traced, tracing, traceable, untraceable, tracer, tracery