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Name, Symbol, Number | Mercury, Hg, 80 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chemical series | transition metals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Group, Period, Block | 12 (IIB)[?], 6 , d | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Density, Hardness | 13579.04 kg/m3, 1.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearance | Silvery white | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Atomic Properties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Atomic weight | 200.59 amu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Atomic radius (calc.) | 150 (171) pm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Covalent radius | 149 pm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
van der Waals radius | 155 pm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electron configuration | [Xe]4f14 5d10 6s2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
e- 's per energy level | 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oxidation states (Oxide) | 2, 1 (mildly basic) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crystal structure | Rhombohedral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Physical Properties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
State of matter | Liquid (__) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Melting point | 234.32 K (-37.89 °F) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boiling point | 629.88 K (674.11 °F) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Molar volume | 14.09 ×10-3 m3/mol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heat of vaporization | 59.229 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heat of fusion | 2.295 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vapor pressure | 0.0002 Pa at 234 K | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Speed of sound | 1407 m/s at 293.15 K | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miscellaneous | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electronegativity | 2.00 (Pauling scale) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Specific heat capacity | 140 J/(kg*K) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electrical conductivity | 1.04 106/m ohm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thermal conductivity | 8.34 W/(m*K) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st ionization potential | 1007.1 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd ionization potential | 1810 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd ionization potential | 3300 kJ/mol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most Stable Isotopes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SI units & STP are used except where noted. |
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Mercury easily forms alloys with almost all common metals, including gold and silver but not iron. These alloys are collectively called amalgams.
The freezing point of mercury is -40 ° Celsius which is the same as -40 ° Fahrenheit. This is the only point at which these two temperature scales coincide.
This metal also has uniform volumetric thermal expansion, is less reactive than zinc and cadmium and does not displace hydrogen from acids. Common oxidation states of this element are; mercurous, or +1, and mercuric, or +2. Rare instances of +3 mercury compounds exist.
Miscellaneous uses; mercury switches, pesticides, dental amalgams/preparations, cercury cells for caustic soda and chlorine production, anti-fouling paint, electrode in some types of electrolysis, batteries (mercury cells), and catalysts.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, mercury nitrate was used to remove fur from the animal skins from which felt hats were made. This caused many cases of brain-damage among hatters, or milliners, leading, it is claimed, to the simile "as mad as a hatter".
It was named by alchemists after the Roman god Mercury. Its symbol Hg comes from hydrargyrum, a Latinised form of the Greek word hydrargyros, which was a compound word whose Greek roots meant 'water' and 'silver'. Mercury is one of the few elements that has an alchemical symbol[?]. If you have the right browser and font to support Unicode, you should see the symbol here: ☿.
Organic mercury compounds are also important. Laboratory test have found that electrical discharge causes the noble gases neon, argon, krypton, and xenon to combine with mercury vapor. The products of this combination are held together with van der Waals' forces[?] and result in; HgNe, HgAr, HgKr, and HgXe. Methyl mercury[?] is a dangerous compound that is widely found as a pollutant in water bodies and streams.
Mercury is a very dangerous bioacumulative toxin that is easily absorbed through skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal tissues. Mercury attacks the central nervous system and adversely affects the mouth, gums, and teeth. High exposure over long periods of time will result in brain damage and ultimately death. Air saturated with mercury vapor at room temperature is at a concentration many times the toxic level (the danger is increased at higher temperatures). Mercury should therefore be handled with great care. Containers of mercury need to be covered securely to avoid spillage and sublimation. Heating of mercury or mercury compounds should always be done under a well-ventilated hood.
wikipedia.org dumped 2003-03-17 with terodump