Background

Origin

Mercury is known to ancient Chinese and Hindus; found in Egyptian tombs of 1500 B.C. It was named after the planet Mercury. It comes from the Latin word Hydrargyrum which means (Liquid Silver)

Background

It is the only common liquid metal found at room temperatures. It only rarely occurs free in nature. It must be stored in close containers to keep it from escaping and polluting the environment. It is bright sliver in color and very heavy. It is obtained from a bright red ore called cinnabar. The commercial unit for handling Mercury is the “flask,” which weighs 76 lb. Most Mercury comes from Spain and Italy where it has been mined for two thousand year. It readily absorbs other elements, forming substances called amalugums.    

Uses of Mercury

Mercury is used in many things such as the most important salts. Mercuric chloride which is a violent poison, mercurous chloride which is still used in medicine, Mercury sulphide which is a grade paint pigment and mercury fulminate which is a detonator used in explosives. Mercury is also used in laboratories for making thermometers, barometers, diffusion pumps and many other instruments. Also it is used for mercury switches electrode in some types of electrolysis and for making batteries. Mercury vapor lamps, dental preparations are also some things Mercury is used in. With out Mercury we wouldn’t have any of these things.

Hazards

Some forms of Mercury are released into the environment at the rate of 11,000 tons a year. Mercury is not supposed to be a role in the human body but large fish exposes people to it. It is very affective to newborn and can damage them during birth. Another health hazard with Mercury is that once it reaches the atmosphere it becomes indestructible and cannot be destyoed.

Basic Facts

Mercury was named after the planet Mercury. Mercury’s chemical symbol comes from the word Hydragyrum which means “Liquid Silver”