Periodic Table of Elements: Mercury (original) (raw)
Element Mercury - Hg
Comprehensive data on the chemical element Mercury is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Mercury. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one's studies.
Mercury Menu
- Mercury Page One
- Mercury Page Two
- Mercury Page Three
Overview of Mercury
- Atomic Number: 80
- Group: 12
- Period: 6
- Series: Transition Metals
Mercury's Name in Other Languages
- Latin: Hydrargyrum
- Czech: Rtut´
- Croatian: Živa
- French: Mercure
- German: Quecksilber - e
- Italian: Mercurio
- Norwegian: Kvikksølv
- Portuguese: Mercúrio
- Russian: Ргуть
- Spanish: Mercurio
- Swedish: Kvicksilver
Atomic Structure of Mercury
Chemical Properties of Mercury
- Electrochemical Equivalent: 3.742g/amp-hr
- Electron Work Function: 4.49eV
- Electronegativity: 2 (Pauling); 1.44 (Allrod Rochow)
- Heat of Fusion: 2.295kJ/mol
- Incompatibilities:
Acetylene, ammonia, chlorine dioxide, azides, calcium (amalgam formation), sodium carbide, lithium, rubidium, copper - Ionization Potential
- Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 28.2
Physical Properties of Mercury
- Atomic Mass Average: 200.59
- Boiling Point: 630K 357°C 675°F
- Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K-1: 181E-6
- Conductivity
Electrical: 0.0104 106/cm Ω
Thermal: 0.0834 W/cmK - Density: 13.546g/cc @ 300K
- Description:
Silver colored liquid transition metal. - Elastic Modulus:
- Bulk: 25/GPa
- Enthalpy of Atomization: 61.5 kJ/mole @ 25°C
- Enthalpy of Fusion: 2.29 kJ/mole
- Enthalpy of Vaporization: 56.9 kJ/mole
- Flammablity Class: Noncombustible Liquid
- Freezing Point: see melting point
- Hardness Scale
- Mohs: 1.5
- Heat of Vaporization: 59.229kJ/mol
- Melting Point: 234.43K -38.72°C -37.7°F
- Molar Volume: 14.81 cm3/mole
- Optical Reflectivity: 73%
- Optical Refractive Index: 1.000933
- Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Liquid
- Specific Heat: 0.139J/gK
- Vapor Pressure = 0.0002Pa@-38.72°C
Regulatory / Health
- CAS Number
- 7439-97-6
- UN/NA ID and ERG Guide Number
- 2809 / 172
- RTECS: OV4550000
- OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
- Ceiling: 0.1 mg/m3
- OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
- NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
- Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Skin absorption; Ingestion; Skin and/or eye contact
- Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system, central nervous system, kidneys
- Levels In Humans:
Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.- Blood/mg dm-3: 0.0078
- Bone/p.p.m: 0.45
- Liver/p.p.m: 0.018-3.7
- Muscle/p.p.m: 0.02-0.7
- Daily Dietary Intake: 0.004-0.02 mg
- Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 6 mg
Who / Where / When / How
- Discoverer: Known to ancient civilization
- Discovery Location: Unknown
- Discovery Year: Unknown
- Name Origin:
From the Greek god Mercury who was the messenger to the gods and was known for his speed; Hg from mercury's Latin name Hydrargyrum, which comes from the Greek word "hydrargyros" ("hydor" for water and "argyros" for silver). - Abundance of Mercury:
- Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 0.05
- Seawater/p.p.m.:
* Atlantic Suface: 4.9E-07
* Atlantic Deep: 4.9E-07
* Pacific Surface: 3.3E-07
* Pacific Deep: 3.3E-07 - Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
- Sun (Relative to H=1E12): 125
- Sources of Mercury:
Most mercury comes from cinnabar ore. Annual world production is around 8,400 tons. Primary mining areas are Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia. - Uses of Mercury:
Used in thermometers, barometers, fluorescent lamps and batteries. - Additional Notes:
Causes neurological and kidney damage and blindness. Also associated with birth defects. Very damaging to aquatic life. It is found in paint, batteries, thermometers, electrical equipment, fluorescent lights and plastics. Also used in gold mining industry. Batteries account for 88% of the mercury content in municipal solid waste.
Mercury Menu
- Mercury Page One
- Mercury Page Two
- Mercury Page Three
References
A list of reference sources used to compile the data provided on our periodic table of elements can be found on the main periodic table page.
Related Resources
- Anatomy of the Atom
Answers many questions regarding the structure of atoms. - Molarity, Molality and Normality
Introduces stoichiometry and explains the differences between molarity, molality and normality. - Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations. - Chemical Database
This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.
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