Difference between revisions of "mercury"

'''Mercury''', also called '''quicksilver''', is a [[chemical element]] in the [[periodic table]] that has the symbol '''Hg''' (from the [[Latin]] '''''hydrargyrum''''', for ''watery'' (or ''liquid'') ''silver'') and [[atomic number]] 80. A heavy, silvery, [[transition metal]], mercury is one of five elements that are [[liquid]] at or near room temperature (the others are the metals [[caesium]], [[francium]], and [[gallium]], and the nonmetal [[bromine]]). Mercury is used in [[thermometer]]s, [[barometer]]s and other scientific apparatus, although the use of mercury in thermometers has been largely phased out in clinical and scientific environments (in favor of alcohol-filled, digital or [[thermistor]]-based replacements) in the interests of health and safety due to the toxicity of the element. Mercury is mostly obtained by reduction from the [[mineral]] [[cinnabar]].  Its high density allows things such as billiard balls to float with less than 20% of their volume submerged.

'''Mercury''', also called '''quicksilver''', is a [[chemical element]] in the [[periodic table]] that has the symbol '''Hg''' (from the [[Latin]] '''''hydrargyrum''''', for ''watery'' (or ''liquid'') ''silver'') and [[atomic number]] 80. A heavy, silvery, [[transition metal]], mercury is one of five elements that are [[liquid]] at or near room temperature (the others are the metals [[caesium]], [[francium]], and [[gallium]], and the nonmetal [[bromine]]). Mercury is used in [[thermometer]]s, [[barometer]]s and other scientific apparatus, although the use of mercury in thermometers has been largely phased out in clinical and scientific environments (in favor of alcohol-filled, digital or [[thermistor]]-based replacements) in the interests of health and safety due to the toxicity of the element. Mercury is mostly obtained by reduction from the [[mineral]] [[cinnabar]].  Its high density allows things such as billiard balls to float with less than 20% of their volume submerged.