Mercury

Mercury

All About It

Hg

The Name

Chemical Charicteristics

protons and electron = 80neutrons in most abundant isotope = 122boiling point: 357oC / 630Kmelting point : -39oC / 234K

Chinese emperors used mercury to prolong their lives although it probability it had the opposite effect. Despite the fact that mercury is now known to be highly toxic, some traditional Chinese medicines still appear to contain high levels of mercury.In 1772 and 1774, Swedish scientist Carl W. Scheele and English chemist Joseph Priestley heated mercury oxide and found it yielded a gas that made a candle burn five times faster than normal they had discovered oxygen.

Named after the planet Mercury. Mercury's chemical symbol comes from the Greek word hydrargyrum, which means "liquid silver."

Interesting Facts

Mercury was known to the ancient Chinese, Egyptians and Hindus and has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to about 1500 B.C

Mercury readily forms alloys (called amalgams) with other metals, such as silver, gold and tin. As it does not amalgamate with iron, mercury is often stored in iron containers

Mettalic, toxic, state : liquid at room temperature

Physical Characteristics

Harmfull to only 100% of humans who handle it wrong