For every 2 orbits of the sun, which takes around 88 earth days, mercury completes three rotations of its axis. Hydrogen is the most common element found in the universe. Spain and italy produce about half of the worlds supply of mercury. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and is also the smallest of the eight planets in our solar system. Even the ancient egyptians had records of using mercury in various objects. The book also explains the element s applications in thermometers, thermostats, silent wall switches, fluorescent lights, and dental amalgams. Mercury has seven stable isotopes with hg202 being the most abundant 29. The planets atmosphere is so thin that scientists have another name for. The triple point of mercury is a fixed point on the international temperature scale.
Interesting facts about the element mercury all that is. It is mainly found in the form of ores the likes of corderoite, livingstonite, and cinnabar. Man has known of this element for thousands of years. Here are 10 interesting mercury element facts, including its properties, uses, history, and sources. Kids learn about the element mercury and its chemistry including atomic. Named after the god and planet mercury, its symbol hg reflects its liquid nature as the greek word hydrargyrum translates as liquid silver. Mercury easily forms alloys, called amalgams, with other metals such as gold, silver and tin. Facts about mercury the element will inform you about a chemical element which has the symbol hg, atomic number 80, and atomic mass 200. The elements book mad science book periodic table poster. The planets atmosphere is so thin that scientists have another name for it. Mercury was the roman god of commerce and financial gain and has given his name to the word merchant. Mercury is also called as quicksilver or hydrargyrum.
This sweetass bad boy is the second densest element and the most corrosiveresistant. Mercury facts interesting facts about planet mercury. Quicksilver with symbol hg or in other words mercury will be presented in facts about mercury element. Mercury is the only metal which is still known by its alchemical planetary name.
Mercury, also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum, is a chemical element. If you cool it with liquid nitrogen, mercury becomes an ordinary. Mercury hg, chemical element, liquid metal of group 12 iib, or zinc group of the periodic table. Mercury element information, properties and uses periodic table. In the denmark, sweden, and nowway, the use of mercury gas been banned in manufacturing. Mercury is the third element in the twelfth column of the periodic table. Jan 28, 2015 mercury has the thinnest atmosphere of any planet in the solar system. Mercury has been present and known for past few millennia. Mar 24, 2011 other than the number 80 is the atomic number of mercury, 121 as the number of neutrons in a mercury atom, and 200. Wild, weird, wonderful stories about the elements that make. Among those, 90 elements can be found in nature, others are strictly manmade.
Mercury is so close to the sun, it is hard to directly observe it from earth except during dawn or twilight. Mercury is a shiny, silvery, liquid metal, sometimes called quicksilver. Rich in facts and information, the book provides a fundamental look at the issues. Well, a trip to mercury is not possible now or ever, but you and your kids can surely learn a great deal about it while being on the earth just by reading. The pure metal is absorbed easily by inhalation, ingestion or through the skin.
Mercury and most of its compounds are highly toxic. Without much ado, let us take a look at the facts and uses that are segregated under various categories. The planet mercury is a bit larger than the earths moon. This dense metal is atomic number 80 with element symbol hg. Element mercury hg, group 12, atomic number 80, dblock, mass 200. It is gravitationally locked and this rotation is unique. Written by recognized national and international authority on chemical risk assessment, ronald eisler, mercury hazards to living organisms explores the biological, physical, and chemical properties of mercury and its compounds.
Hence, it should be kept out of reach of children and pets. In fact, there is only one other liquid element, bromine. Close by the sun is mercury, a practically atmospherelike world that. Dec 18, 2014 in fact, evidence of its use has been found in china, india and egypt, and traces of mercury were found in 3,500yearold egyptian tombs.
It is also a chronic pollutant and mercury concentrates in animalfish tissues in increasing amounts up the food chain. A heavy, silvery metal, mercury is one of the elements that are liquid at or near room temperature. Mercury is a dense, silverywhite, poisonous metal with a mirrorlike appearance. Isotopes are atoms of the same element, with different numbers of neutrons. Apr 02, 2020 the more you learn, the stranger the world seems. Mercury is the only metallic element that is a liquid at room temperature. Pictures, stories, and facts about the element mercury in the periodic. Photographs and descriptions of many samples of the element mercury in the periodic table. The mercury element is the only metal that remains a liquid at standard room temperature. It is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest planet to the sun. Mercury is the closest planet to our sun and is the smallest planet in our solar system. Mercury was known to the ancient chinese and hindus and has been found in 3500 year old egyptian tombs. It is a transition metal with atomic number 80 on the periodic table and an atomic weight of 200.
In the past, it was called quicksilver for two reasons. It can enter the body through an open wound or by inhaling or ingesting it. This particular element is a constituent used in manufacturing gun bullets. One of the amazing facts about the element mercury is that it is named after a greek god just as the first planet to the earth. Uses, cost, and facts of mercury mercury the element. He was also the god of poetry, thieving, trickery and travellers. Mercury is not usually found free in nature and is primarily obtained from the mineral cinnabar hgs. A heavy, silvery dblock element, mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure. However, knowing the truth will help you move forward in life with accurate knowledge about how strange the world is. There are many interesting facts about the planet mercury which your kids will love to know.
Mercury also called quicksilver, is an element that has the symbol hg greek. It is a terrestrial planet, which means it is an earthlike planet made up of rocks or metals and has a hard surface. If you read and explore enough, youll discover fun facts that will shock you and sometimes turn your world upside down. It has many usages because of its unique properties because of which we are going to find out facts list about the 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.
Lets begin with the name of this silverywhite poisonous metallic element. I used to break those oldfashioned mercury thermometers. Oct 29, 2017 for spain, mercury were used for silver mining process in south america. If you are interested in the wonders of the universe, as planets, stars, black holes, theories, our solar system. Todays china and kyrgyzstan are the largest producers of mercury facts about mercury the element 9. Mercury atoms have 80 electrons and 80 protons with 122 neutrons in the most abundant isotope. While its an extremely rare element, theres a world of interesting information about mercury. Mercury sometimes called quick silver is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. Wild, weird, wonderful stories about the elements that. In ancient times the elements referred to fire, earth, water, and air. Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system 2. The ease with which it amalgamates with gold made it useful in recovering gold from its ores. It is also one of only two elements that are liquid at room temperature. There are 118 confirmed elements in the periodic table.
Mercury facts periodic table of the elements life 2020. Besides, mercury can dissolve and becomes a new substance or an amalgam when it comes into contact with other metals such as. Wild, weird, wonderful stories about the elements that make up our universe. Mercury amalgams were also used in dental fillings. Archeologists have found mercury in egyptian tombs dating to 1500 bce.
His children were pan and the lares, a group of invisible. Hydrogen is the lightest element with its atomic weight 1 and that is why it can be found in the top left corner of the periodic table. Elements found on earth and mars are exactly the same. Jul 06, 2010 wild, weird, wonderful stories about the elements that make up our universe. Mercuric sulfide vermilion is a highgrade, brightred paint pigment, but is very toxic so is now only. Top 10 facts about mercury element less known facts. The longestlive radioisotopes are hg194 with a halflife of 444 years and hg203 with a halflife of 46. Your weight on mercury would be 38% of your weight on earth. Sources, facts, uses, scarcity sri, podcasts, alchemical symbols, videos and. A day on the surface of mercury lasts 176 earth days. Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol hg and atomic number 80. Mercury its atomic symbol is hg hydtagyrum which in greek means water silver. Aug 15, 2008 mercury s place on the periodic table and its subatomic particles are also discussed. The discovery of mercury was made thousands of years ago, and traces of the element can even be found in egyptian tombs that date back to the year 1500 b.
Mercury has no atmosphere and no known satellites, perhaps because of its proximity to the sun. Mercury is an extremely hazardous substance and can be fatal if ingested. Mercury is also in dental fillings in silver amalgam form, it is used for electric switches, fluorescent lamps, its used for mercury diffusion pumps to create high vacuum, it is used in batteries, and it is also used in chemical pesticides. This collection of mercury facts includes atomic data, the electron configuration, chemical and physical properties, and history of the element. Antimony is the 5th row pblock element of the periodic table. Its symbol on the periodic table is hg, and its atomic number is 80. The symbol hg stands for its latinized greek name hydrargyrum, meaning watery or liquid silver. Mercury has the thinnest atmosphere of any planet in the solar system. Mercury can be frozen changed into a solid at a temperature of 38. Heres some cool and fun facts about the planet mercury. Its normal appearance is a liquid with silvery surface, hence its also called as quick silver. Named after the god and planet mercury, its symbol hg reflects.
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