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Chemistry - Mercury

Introduction

Mercury is a chemical element, which usually known as ‘quicksilver.’.’

Formerly,, mercurymercury waswas namednamed asas ‘‘hydrargyrum.’.’ The symbol of mercury is ‘Hg’‘Hg’ andand atomicatomic numbernumber isis ‘80.’‘80.’

The red pigment vermilion isis extracted by grinding either natural cinnabar or synthetic mercuric sulfide.

Salient Features of Mercury

Mercury is a heavy and silvery-white metal. Mercury usually available inin liquidliquid state; inin normal condition, itit isis only thethe fewfew metallic element that remains in liquid state at room temperature. Mercury is the poor conductor of heat, but it is a good conductor of the electricity.. The freezing point of mercury is −38.830C and the boiling point is 356.730C. caused because of thethe ingestingingesting any formform of mercury.. ItIt isis also caused by inhalation of mercury vapor.. https://www.tutorialspoint.com/chemistry_part2/chemistry_mercury.htm 1/3 1/24/2021 Chemistry - Mercury - Tutorialspoint Mercury dissolves many metals including gold and silver to form amalgams.

Occurrence of Mercury

Mercury is one of the rarest element in the earth’s crust.

The richest mercury ores carry about 2.5 percent mercury (in terms of mass). Mercury isis foundfound either as a native (natural) element) or inin corderoite, cinnabar,, livingstonite,livingstonite, etc.etc. minerals.minerals.

Mercury iis foundfound thethe region of young mountain belt; thethe belt thatthat keep forcingforcing thethe denser rocks to the crust of the earth. For example, volcanic region or even hot spring regions.

Alloys of Mercury

Amalgam is the major alloy of mercury..

Compounds of Mercury

Following are the major compounds of Mercury −

Mercury (II) chloride - HgCl2 Mercury (II) oxide - HgO

Mercury sulfide - HgS

Mercury (I) – chloride - Hg2Cl2

Dimethylmer - C2H6Hg

Mercury (II) nitrate - Hg(NO3)2

Mercury (II) acetate - C4H6O4Hg

Mercury (II) sulfate - HgSO4

Mercury (I) iodide - Hg2II2 - HgSe

Mercury (II) fulminate - Hg(CNO)2

Mercury (II) bromide - HgBr2

Mercury (II) iodide - HgI2

Mercury (I) oxide - Hg2O

Mercury (I) fluoride - Hg2F2

Mercuric amidochloride - ClH2HgN

Diethylmercury - C4H10Hg

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/chemistry_part2/chemistry_mercury.htm 2/3 1/24/2021 Chemistry - Mercury - Tutorialspoint Uses of Mercury

Mercury is largely used in chemical industries. Mercury is used in electrical and electronic application. Mercury is used in the thermometers that we use to measure the temperature. Mercury along with its compounds are commonly used in various medicines.

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