Mercury (element)

iso	NA	half-life	DM	DE M eV	DP
¹⁹⁴Hg	{syn.}	444 y	&epsilon	0.040	¹⁹⁴Au
¹⁹⁶Hg	0.15%	Hgstable116 neutrons
¹⁹⁸Hg	9.97%	Hgstable118 neutrons
¹⁹⁹Hg	16.87%	Hgstable119 neutrons
²⁰⁰Hg	23.1%	Hgstable120 neutrons
²⁰¹Hg	13.18%	Hgstable121 neutrons
²⁰²Hg	29.86%	Hgstable122 neutrons
²⁰⁴Hg	6.87%	Hgstable124 neutrons

SI units & STPused except where noted.

Mercury, also called quicksilver, ischemical element inperiodic table that hassymbol Hgatomic number 80. A heavy, silvery, toxic, transition metal, mercuryoneonly two elements thatliquid at everyday room-temperatures (the otherBromine)is usedthermometers, barometersother scientific apparatus. Mercurymostly obtained by reduction frommineral cinnabar.

Tablecontents

1 Notable characteristics
2 Applications
3 History
4 Occurrence
5 Compounds
6 Isotopes
7 Precautions
8 External links

Notable characteristics

Mercury isheavy, silvery-white univalentbivalent transition metal that isrelatively poor conductorheat butdecent conductorelectricityisonly common metal thatliquid at room temperature (forming an opaque glistening liquid).

Mercury easily forms alloysalmost all common metals, including gold silver but not iron. Anythese alloyscalled an amalgam.

The freezing pointmercury-40 ° Celsius which issame as -40 ° Fahrenheit. This isonly point at which these two temperature scales coincide.

This metal also has uniform volumetric thermal expansion,less reactive than zinc cadmiumdoes not displace hydrogen from acids. Common oxidation statesthis element are; mercurous, or +1,mercuric, or +2. Rare instances+3 mercury compounds exist.

Applications

Most mercuryused formanufactureindustrial chemicalsfor electricalelectronic applications. In addition, mercurywidely usedthermometers, especially ones whichusedmeasure high temperatures. Other uses;

The easewhichforms amalgamsgold has resultedits usegold recovery from ores.
In additionthermometers, mercuryusedbarometers, diffusion pumps,many other laboratory instruments.
The triple pointmercury, -38.8344 °C, isfixed point used astemperature standard forInternational Temperature Scale (ITS-90).
Gaseous mercuryusedmercury-vapor lampsadvertising signs.

Miscellaneous uses; mercury switches, pesticides, dental amalgams/preparations, mercury cellscaustic soda chlorine production, anti-fouling paint, electrodesome typeselectrolysis, batteries (mercury cells),catalysts.

History

Mercury was known toancient Chinese Hinduswas foundEgyptian tombs that date from 1500s BC. By 500 BCwas usedmake amalgamsother metals. The ancient Greekss used this toxic metalointments andRomans usedin cosmetics. Alchemists thought itbestuff from which all matter was formedthey also thought that whenhardenedturned into gold.

In18th 19th centuries, mercury nitrate was usedremove fur fromanimal skins from which felt hats were made. This caused many casesbrain damage among hatters, or milliners, leading, itclaimed, tosimile "as mad ashatter",thereby toMad HatterAliceWonderland fame.

It was named by alchemists afterRoman god Mercury. Its symbol Hg comes from hydrargyrum,Latinised form ofGreek word hydrargyros, which wascompound word whose Greek roots meant 'water''silver'. Mercuryone offew elements that has an alchemical symbol. If you haveright browserfontsupport Unicode, you should seesymbol here: ☿.

Occurrence

A rare element inearth's crust, mercuryfound either asnative metal (rare) orcinnabar, corderoite, livingstonite,other mineralscinnabar (HgS) beingmost common ore. Approximately 50% ofglobal supply comes from Spain Italymuch ofrest coming from Yugoslavia, Russia,North America. The metalextracted by heating cinnabar incurrentairby condensingvapor.

Compounds

The most important salts are:

mercury chloride (whichvery corrosive, sublimatesisviolent poison)
mercurous chloride (whichcalomelis sometimes still usedmedicine)
mercury fulminate, (a detonator widely usedexplosives),
mercuric sulfide (usedmake vermilion which ishigh-grade paint pigment).

Organic mercury compoundssalso important. Laboratory test have found that electrical discharge causesnoble gases neon, argon, krypton,xenoncombinemercury vapor. The productsthis combinationheld togethervan der Waals forcesresultHgNe, HgAr, HgKr,HgXe. Methyl mercury isdangerous compound thatwidely found aspollutantwater bodiesstreams.

Isotopes

Thereseven stable isotopesmercuryHg-202 beingmost abundant (26.86%). The longest-lived radioisotopesHg-194 withhalf-life444 years,Hg-203 withhalf-life46.612 days. Most ofremaining radioisotopes have half-lifes thatless thanday.

Precautions

Mercuryhighly toxicboth liquid gaseous forms. This istoxic heavy metal that causes brain liver damage if itingested or inhaled. For this reason, thermometers whichonly intendedmeasure typical climatic temperatures now use pigmented alcohol instead;boiling pointalcoholhigher than any natural temperature expected on Earth. Some medical thermometers still use mercury,reasonaccuracy. Care must be exercised notbite suchthermometer. The commercial unithandling mercury is"flask," which weighs 76 lb.

Mercury isvery dangerous bioaccumulative toxin thateasily absorbed through skin, respiratorygastrointestinal tissues. Minamata disease isformmercury poisoning. Mercury attackscentral nervous system adversely affectsmouth, gums,teeth. High exposure overperiodstime will resultbrain damageultimately death. Air saturatedmercury vapor at room temperatureatconcentration many timestoxic level, despitehigh boiling point (the dangerincreased at higher temperatures). Mercury should therefore be handledgreat care. Containersmercury needbe covered securelyavoid spillageevaporation. Heatingmercury or mercury compounds should always be done underwell-ventilated hood; some oxidesparticular can decompose into elemental mercury, which immediately evaporatesmay not be obvious.

External links

simple:Mercury (element)