Quicksilver with symbol Hg or in other words mercury will be presented in facts about mercury element. Mercury is a chemical and the only metalic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure, the only other element that is liquid under these conditions is bromine, though metal such as caesium, gallium, and rubidium melt just above room temperature. Here are the interesting information about the mercury element.
Facts about Mercury Element 1: Physical Property
Mercury is a heavy liquid metal. Compared to other metals, mercury is a poor conductor of heat, but a fair conductor of electricity. It has a freezing point of -38.830 C and a boiling point of 356.730 C which are both the lowest of any metal. In freezing condition, the volume of mercury decreased by 3.59% and the density changes from 13.69 g/cm3 when liquid to14.184 g/cm3 when solid.
Facts about Mercury Element 2: Chemical Properties
Like silver, mercury reacts with atmospheric hydrogen sulfide and solid sulfur flakes. The reaction between mercury and solid sulfur flakes used in mercury spill kits to absord mercury. Gold and silver can be dissolved became amalgams by mercury. Iron is an exception, and iron flasks have traditionally been used to trade mercury.
facts about mercury element
Facts about Mercury Element 3: Isotopes
Mercury has seven stable isotopes with Hg-202 being the most abundant (29.86%). The longest-live radioisotopes are Hg-194 with a half-life of 444 years and Hg-203 with a half-life of 46.612 days. The remaining radioisotopes mostly have have-live that are less than a day. Hg-199 and Hg-201 are the most often studied NMR-active nuclei, having spins of 1/2 and 3/2 repectively.
Facts about Mercury Element 4: Etymology
Hydrargyrum is a latinized from the Greek word, which is a compound word meaning “water-silver”. Then Hydrargyrum is symbolised by Hg. The element was named after the Roman god Mercury. It is associated with the planet Mercury, it iis based on the astrological symbol for the planet is also one of the alchemical symbols for metal.
Facts about Mercury Element 5: History
Initially, mercury was found in Egyptian tombs that date from 1500 BC. Amazingly, in China and Tibet, mercury use was thought to prolong life, heal fractures, and maintain generally good health, although it is now known that exposure to mercury vapor leads to serious adverse health effects.
Facts about Mercury Element 6: Compounds of Mercury (I)
Most mercury usually forms simple stable compounds with metal-metal bonds. Mercury (I) mostly compounds are diamagnetic and feature the dimetric cation, Hg22+. Treatment of Hg (I) compounds complexation with strong ligands such as sulfide, cyanide, etc.
facts about mercury element
Facts about Mercury Element 7: Compounds of Mercury (II)
Mercury (II) is the most general oxidation state and it is the primary one in nature as well. The easily sublimating white solid best known as mercury (II) chloride. The main oxide of mercury (II) arises when the metal is exposed to the air for long periods at elevated temperatures.
Facts about Mercury Element 8: Possibility of Higher Oxidation States
In fact, oxidation states above +2 in an uncharged species are absolutely rare, even though a cyclic mercurinium (IV) cation, by three substituents.
Facts about Mercury Element 9: Medicine
Eventhough mercury is one of the dangerous element, on the other hand mercury and its compounds have been used as medicine.
facts about mercury element
Facts about Mercury Element 10: Firearms
Mercury (II) flash is a main explosive which is mainly used as primer of a cartridge in firearms.
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