{"id":177,"date":"2020-04-09T09:46:43","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T09:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/?page_id=177"},"modified":"2023-08-15T15:41:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T15:41:43","slug":"mercury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/mercury\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercury (Hg)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mercury is a chemical element with atomic number 80 in the periodic table<\/a>. Accounting for only 0.08 parts per million (ppm) of the Earth\u2019s crust, element number 80 is a very rare occurrence in the Earth\u2019s crust. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post-transition metal is the only metal element that occurs in liquid form. It has two valence electrons and is one of the most toxic chemicals in Mendeleev\u2019s system of elements.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Chemical and Physical Properties of Mercury<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Property<\/strong><\/td>Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Symbol<\/td>Hg<\/td><\/tr>
Name<\/td>Mercury<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic number<\/td>80<\/td><\/tr>
Group<\/td>Metal<\/td><\/tr>
Period<\/td>6<\/td><\/tr>
Color<\/td>A liquid silvery-white metal<\/td><\/tr>
Physical state<\/td>Liquid at room temperature<\/td><\/tr>
Half-life<\/td>From 80(+400-40) milliseconds to 444 years<\/td><\/tr>
Electronegativity<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr>
Density<\/td>13.546 g.cm-3<\/td><\/tr>
Melting point<\/td>\u221238.829\u00b0C, \u221237.892\u00b0F, 234.321 K<\/td><\/tr>
Boiling point<\/td>356.619\u00b0C, 673.914\u00b0F, 629.769 K<\/td><\/tr>
Van der Waals radius<\/td>155 pm<\/td><\/tr>
Ionic radius<\/td>1.02 (+2) \u00c5<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic weight<\/td>200.59<\/td><\/tr>
Isotopes<\/td>7<\/td><\/tr>
Most characteristic isotope<\/td>202Hg<\/td><\/tr>
Electronic shell<\/td>[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the first ionization<\/td>1004.6 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the second ionization<\/td>1796 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the third ionization<\/td>3294 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
Crystal Structure<\/td>Rhombohedral<\/td><\/tr>
Shells<\/td>2,8,18,32,18,2<\/td><\/tr>
Valence<\/td>1,2<\/td><\/tr>
Covalent Radius<\/td>1.49 \u00c5<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic Radius<\/td>1.76 \u00c5<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic Volume<\/td>14.82 cm\u00b3\/mol<\/td><\/tr>
Name Origin<\/td>From the Roman god Mercury; Latin: hydrargyrus (liquid silver)<\/td><\/tr>
Discoverer<\/td>Known to the ancients<\/td><\/tr>
Year<\/td>Unknown<\/td><\/tr>
Location<\/td>Unknown<\/td><\/tr>
Pronounced<\/td>MER-kyoo-ri<\/td><\/tr>
Oxydation States<\/td>(2),1<\/td><\/tr>
Uses<\/td>Used in thermometers, barometers, batteries, electrical switches, and mercury-vapor lighting products.<\/td><\/tr>
Description<\/td>Soft gray metal that looks like lead<\/a>.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With the periodic table symbol Hg, atomic number 80, atomic mass of 200.592 g.mol<\/span>-1<\/span>, and electron configuration [Xe] 4f<\/span>14<\/span>5d<\/span>10<\/span>6s<\/span>2<\/span>, mercury is a highly mobile liquid metal that reaches its boiling point at 356.619\u00b0C, 673.914\u00b0F, or 629.769 K, while the melting point is achieved at \u221238.829\u00b0C, \u221237.892\u00b0F, or 234.321 K. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In comparison with the other metals, mercury is a poor conductor of heat, but an excellent conductor of electricity. It has an electronegativity of 2.00 according to Pauling, and mercury\u2019s atomic radius is 155 pm, as determined per van der Waals. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Was Mercury Discovered?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first records of this chemical element trace back to 1500 BC, when mercury was found in the Egyptian tombs. Around 3000 years ago, the Babylonians, the ancient Chinese, and the Romans were allegedly using the element in creams and ointments that they applied to the skin. This proved to have a poisonous effect, due to the dangerously high amounts of Hg that was mixed with other chemicals. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Tragic Discovery of Qin Shi Huang <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Chinese emperor <\/span>Qin Shi Huang<\/span><\/a> was the first to detect the toxic effect of mercury, which at that time, was not yet recognized as a chemical element. The emperor was in search of a magic elixir that would give him eternal life. He believed in the existence of wizards and sages that lived more than 10.000 years as a result of consuming a <\/span>cinnabar<\/span><\/i> (mercury sulfide, HgS) potion. So, he started adding cinnabar to his honey-sweetened wine. Unfortunately, mercury poisoning led him to premature death rather than eternal life. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

De Lavoisier: Establishing Mercury as a Chemical Element<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the 18<\/span>th<\/span> century, the great French chemist Antoinne-Laurent de Lavoisier (1743 – 1794), one of the founders of modern chemistry,  contributed immensely to determining the chemical properties of mercury through scientific research. In the summer of 1774, de Lavoisier and the distinguished English chemist Joseph Priestley (1733 – 1976) observed the reaction of a heated mercury calx. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When exposed to high temperatures, the substance emitted a gas which triggered a vigorous flame from the candle. Consequently, they came to the conclusion that pure air contributes to a greater flame, and labeled the gas that came out of the decomposing mercury calx as  \u2018dephlogisticated air\u2019. From this point, de Lavoisier developed further scientific evidence that put mercury amongst the other chemical elements on the list that he compiled. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Did Mercury Get Its Name?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The symbol Hg under which mercury is classified is derived from the Greek word <\/span>hydrargyrum<\/span><\/i>, meaning \u2018liquid silver\u2019. The other name used for this highly mobile and difficult to contain chemical is \u2018quicksilver\u2019, which perfectly describes the physical appearance of the liquid metal with a shiny silver color. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name of the element mercury is also associated with the Roman god Mercury (the messenger of the Gods) and the planet Mercury. This tiny planet\u2019s mobility was associated with the element’s own mobility, so that mercury remained the name of this element even in modern times, which is a unique occurrence. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Where Can You Find Mercury?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mercury rarely occurs independently in nature. The cinnabar (mercury sulfite) is the most common ore from which mercury can be obtained. For this reason, the ore is first ground up and exposed to a temperature of about 1.076 degrees F (580 degrees Celsius) with added oxygen during the process of extraction.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This liquid metal also occurs in the vicinity of hot springs or volcanos. Spain and Italy are the leading countries in the world\u2019s production of mercury. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Mercury in Everyday Life<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cinnabar (or vermillion) was used by the Palaeolithic painters around 30,000 years ago. Since it releases a bright red pigment, vermillion was used for decorating caves in Spain and France.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, we use mercury for various purposes:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n