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mercury [Hg]
Named after the planet Mercury, which was named for the Roman god of eloquence, skills & commerce.
The symbol Hg comes from the Latin hydargyrum meaning liquid silver.
Known since ancient times.
Occurrence:
1) rare in earth's crust
2) found in cinnabar ore
Characteristics:
1) heavy, silver-white metal
2) only metal that is liquid at room temperature
3) very volatile: its vapors are toxic
4) alloys easily with other metals
5) mercury & its compounds are toxic
a) cumulative poison
b) affects central nervous system, mouth, gums & teeth
Uses:
1) dental amalgams
2) scientific instruments
a) thermometers
b) barometers
b) diffusion pumps
3) batteries
4) switches
5) pesticides
6) vapor lamps
7) advertizing signs
Laboratory:
- mercury in specimen
- mercury in water
- mercury in milk
- mercury in food
- mercury in tissue
- mercury in dentin
- mercury in hair
- mercury in nail
- mercury in erythrocytes
- mercury in body fluid
- mercury in blood
- mercury in CSF
- mercury in dialysis fluid
- mercury in saliva
- mercury in serum/plasma
- mercury in urine
Related
Hg+2
mercury toxicity (hydrargyria, mercurialism)
methyl mercury (MeHg, HgCH3)
General
chemical element
metal
Properties
SIZE: AW = 200.59
atomic number
VALUE: 80
VALENCE: XE 4F14 5D10 6S2
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM correlations
References
- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-
Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
- Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Mercury
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/mercury/index.cfm