The black "smoke" that flows out of deep ocean hydrothermal vents is made of insoluble metal sulfides suspended in seawater. Of the following cations that are present in the water flowing up through these vents, which ones could contribute to the formation of the black smoke?
Pb2+
Mn2+
Mg2+
Cu2+
Na+
Li+
Zn2+
Fe2+
Ca2+
Lead(II) Sulfide is a black, insoluble precipitate that is formed in hydrothermal vents. This is a constituent of the black "smoke" that is seen. Of all of the ions present, Pb+2 is the only one that gives a black color.
