Name: Mercury
Symbol: Hg
Atomic Number: 80
Standard Atomic Weight: 200.592
Element category: Transition metal
Phase: Liquid
Density: 13.534 grams per cubic centimeter
Melting point 234.3210 K(−38.8290 °C / −37.8922 °F)
Boiling point 629.88 K(356.73 °C / 674.11 °F)
Group: 12
period: 6
block: d
Crystal structure: Rhombohedral
Mercury's chemical symbol comes from the Greek word hydrargyrum, which means "liquid silver."
(from Greek "hydr-" water and "argyros" silver).
Mercury was known to the Ancient Chinese and Indians (before 2000 BC).
Mercury was found in Egyptian tombs that date from 1500 BC.
Mercury is a heavy, silvery-white metal. It is a poor conductor of heat, but a fair conductor of electricity.
Mercury and its compounds are highly poisonous.
Mercury does not react with most acids, such as dilute sulfuric acid, although oxidizing acids such as concentrated sulfuric acid and nitric acid or aqua regia dissolve it to give sulfate, nitrate, and chloride salts. Like silver, mercury reacts with atmospheric hydrogen sulfide. Mercury even reacts with solid sulfur flakes, which are used in mercury spill kits to absorb mercury vapors (spill kits also use activated carbon and powdered zinc)
Mercury is used to make thermometers, diffusion pumps, barometers, mercury vapor lamps, mercury switches, pesticides, batteries, dental preparations, anti-fouling paints, pigments, and catalysts.
Mercury is rarely found free in nature. Mercury is harvested from cinnabar (mercury(I) sulfide - HgS). It is extracted by heating the ore and collecting the mercury vapor produced.