Mercury (element)

Mercury is a <a href="/facts/Chemical_element/0jducgWD">chemical element</a>; it has <a href="/facts/Symbol_(chemistry)/2Fe1VAL0">symbol</a> Hg and <a href="/facts/Atomic_number/bgAr581S">atomic number</a> 80. It is also known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum (/haɪˈdrɑːrdʒərəm/ hy-DRAR-jər-əm) from the Greek words hydor 'water' and argyros 'silver', from which its chemical symbol is derived. A <a href="/facts/Heavy_metal_element/Cblmy8qI">heavy</a>, silvery <a href="/facts/D-block/BbzD5jUU">d-block</a> element, mercury is the only metallic element that is known to be liquid at <a href="/facts/Standard_temperature_and_pressure/JhJv9KFJ">standard temperature and pressure</a>; the only other element that is liquid under these conditions is the <a href="/facts/Halogen/YeFgWHeA">halogen</a> <a href="/facts/Bromine/oLfj3C7D">bromine</a>, though metals such as <a href="/facts/Caesium/dXKN1S5k">caesium</a>, <a href="/facts/Gallium/EucevDs9">gallium</a>, and <a href="/facts/Rubidium/KDHSe2HM">rubidium</a> melt just above <a href="/facts/Room_temperature/YHwUIUTE">room temperature</a>.
Mercury occurs in deposits throughout the world mostly as <a href="/facts/Cinnabar/MUzsHjFw">cinnabar</a> (<a href="/facts/Mercuric_sulfide/25P3yENk">mercuric sulfide</a>). The red pigment <a href="/facts/Vermilion/pYbDVDxf">vermilion</a> is obtained by <a href="/facts/Mill_(grinding)/0PWTxI1c">grinding</a> natural cinnabar or synthetic mercuric sulfide. Exposure to mercury and mercury-containing organic compounds is toxic to the <a href="/facts/Nervous_system/CDxRKU2U">nervous system</a>, <a href="/facts/Immune_system/HRCTf1pb">immune system</a> and <a href="/facts/Kidney/HBspPrv9">kidneys</a> of humans and other animals; <a href="/facts/Mercury_poisoning/xdSGkWLU">mercury poisoning</a> can result from exposure to water-soluble forms of mercury (such as <a href="/facts/Mercuric_chloride/aUAKsq6a">mercuric chloride</a> or <a href="/facts/Methylmercury/xxztUUIU">methylmercury</a>) either directly or through mechanisms of <a href="/facts/Biomagnification/Jw5whhaj">biomagnification</a>.
Mercury is used in <a href="/facts/Thermometer/almVTBxI">thermometers</a>, <a href="/facts/Barometer/M8VQc69q">barometers</a>, <a href="/facts/Manometer/fJrvoTDU">manometers</a>, <a href="/facts/Sphygmomanometer/JQnc3bM6">sphygmomanometers</a>, <a href="/facts/Float_valve/c6yPedcW">float valves</a>, <a href="/facts/Mercury_switch/CJds2BDa">mercury switches</a>, <a href="/facts/Mercury_relay/Gs5KvEzE">mercury relays</a>, <a href="/facts/Fluorescent_lamp/R8SlXCyg">fluorescent lamps</a> and other devices, although concerns about the element's toxicity have led to the phasing out of such mercury-containing instruments. It remains in use in scientific research applications and in <a href="/facts/Amalgam_(dentistry)/1tJBCfwR">amalgam</a> for <a href="/facts/Dental_restoration/0hj6pHjh">dental restoration</a> in some locales. It is also used in <a href="/facts/Fluorescent_lighting/R8SlXCyg">fluorescent lighting</a>. Electricity passed through mercury vapor in a fluorescent lamp produces short-wave <a href="/facts/Ultraviolet_light/kncBUqn5">ultraviolet light</a>, which then causes the <a href="/facts/Phosphor/vTLjrGDE">phosphor</a> in the tube to <a href="/facts/Fluoresce/qsJVT2qP">fluoresce</a>, making visible light.

Mercury (element) open-in-new

Mercury (element)