🔹 Basic Information

• Element Name: Mercury
• Discovered By: Known since ancient times (used by ancient Egyptians and Chinese)
• Year of Discovery: Prehistoric (no exact date)
• Category: Transition Metal
• Group: 12
• State at Room Temperature: Liquid (silvery, shiny metal) 💧

Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature, and it’s known for its mirror-like appearance and unique behavior.

🔸 Chemical Properties

• Chemical Symbol: Hg (from the Latin word Hydrargyrum, meaning “silver water”)
• Atomic Number: 80
• Atomic Mass: ~200.59 u
• Valency: +1, +2
• Electronic Configuration: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s²

Mercury is toxic and must be handled with extreme care. It forms compounds like mercury chloride (HgCl₂) and mercuric oxide (HgO).

📘 Basic Things to Know

Mercury is very dense and does not wet glass, which made it useful in old thermometers and barometers. Because of its toxicity, it’s now largely replaced with safer alternatives.

🤔 Interesting Facts

• Mercury was once called “quicksilver” due to its shiny, flowing appearance. 🪞
• It is extremely heavy — a liter of mercury weighs over 13 kg (29 lbs)! ⚖️
• Mercury expands evenly when heated, which made it perfect for thermometers. 🌡️
• The planet Mercury is named after the Roman messenger god — fast and fluid, like the element! 🪐
• Mercury vapor is dangerous — even a small spill can be harmful if not cleaned properly. ⚠️

🔧 Common Uses (Past and Present)

• Thermometers & Barometers: Used in old scientific tools to measure temperature and pressure. 🌡️
• Fluorescent Lamps: Mercury vapor helps produce UV light inside these tubes. 💡
• Dental Fillings (amalgams): Mercury mixed with other metals was once used in tooth fillings. 🦷
• Gold Mining (historic): Used to extract gold from ores — now mostly banned due to environmental risks.
• Switches & Relays: Used in some electrical applications, though modern tech is moving away from it.

📚 Conclusion

Mercury is a mysterious and historic metal, famous for being liquid, shiny, and dangerously toxic. Though it’s mostly phased out in daily use, it played a huge role in early science and medicine. For students, mercury is a reminder of how amazing — and sometimes risky — the elements can be! 💧🧪