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Periodic Table of Elements

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 studies. Using the "Periodic Table of Elements Quick Navigation" graphic at the bottom of the sidebar menu, one can quickly jump from chemical element to chemical element.

Mercury Menu

• Mercury Page One
  • Overview of Mercury
  • Mercury's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Mercury
  • Chemical Properties of Mercury
  • Physical Properties of Mercury
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Mercury Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Mercury Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Mercury

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:
• Spanish: Mercurio
• Swedish: Kvicksilver

Atomic Structure of Mercury

• Atomic Radius: 1.76Å
• Atomic Volume: 14.82cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.49Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture) σ_a/barns: 374
• Crystal Structure: Rhombohedral

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²p⁶d¹⁰ 4s²p⁶d¹⁰f¹⁴ 5s²p⁶d¹⁰ 6s²

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,18,32,18,2

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 1.02Å
• Filling Orbital: 5d¹⁰
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 80
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 121
• Number of Protons: 80
• Oxidation States: 2,1
• Valence Electrons: 6s²

  Electron Dot Model
  

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
  • First: 10.437
  • Second: 18.759
  • Third: 34.202
• 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
  • TWA: 0.05 mg/m³
  • Ceiling: 0.1 mg/m³
  • Potential for skin absorption
• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • TWA: 0.05 mg/m³
  • Ceiling: 0.1 mg/m³
  • Potential for skin absorption
  • IDLH: 10 mg/m³
• 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.

[Last update: 2/22/2007]

Mercury Menu

• Mercury Page One
  • Overview of Mercury
  • Mercury's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Mercury
  • Chemical Properties of Mercury
  • Physical Properties of Mercury
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Mercury Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Mercury Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Mercury

Related Resources

• Anatomy of the Atom
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• Molarity, Molality and Normality
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• 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.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Mercury - Hg. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2010. Accessed on-line: 3/10/2010
http://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Hg.html
.