OBSOLETE. Any process that results in a change in state or activity of a cell or an organism (in terms of movement, secretion, enzyme production, gene expression, etc.) as a result of a heavy metal stimulus. Heavy metals are those metals that can form a coordination bond with a protein; this definition includes the following biologically relevant heavy metals: Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, V, W, Zn.