Verified Document

Mercury Is Element Number 80 Thesis

Related Topics:

Mercury is element number 80 and is symbolized Hg. It appears on the periodic table in the far-right column of transition metals, right next to the poor metals. With only two electrons in its outer shell, it is incredibly reactive and volatile. There are also several radioactive isotopes of mercury, several of which are highly unstable: HG 197 has a half-life that is measured in hours, and HG 206 has a half life of less than nine minutes. The most unique thing about mercury is that it is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. it's melting -- or freezing -- point is a chilly -38.9 degrees Celsius (roughly -38.02 degrees Fahrenheit). It is also a very poor conductor of heat, which is one of the reasons it is so useful in thermometers -- it expands and contracts over a wide range in response to temperature changes.

Mercury is also very good at conducting electricity, and is often used in batteries. It is also very reactive with other metals, and can be used to make amalgams (alloys) with other metals. It is so good at this that it is often used to extract gold and other precious metal from raw ore. There are many compounds that can be made out of mercury that are both useful and dangerous. Currently, mercury poisoning of waterways and thereby fish -- and thereby creatures like humans that eat the fish -- is a very big issue in ecology and the human impact on the environment. It is also a highly volatile element, and vapors can accumulate rapidly from any sizeable amount of mercury, so it is best to work with it in a very well ventilated area and only after proper training.

In nature, mercury is usually found in cinnabar ore, which is made up of sulfur and mercury. Demonstrations of mercury forming used to be done by heating this ore, but due to the release of vapors this is no longer recommended. It was named mercury after the quick Roman messenger god, and is also called quicksilver because of the way it flows as a liquid.

Sources

Mercury." WebElements.com. http://webelements.com/mercury/

Mercury." Chemical Element.com. http://www.chemicalelement.com/element/mercury.html

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Mercury in Seafood Are High
Words: 3633 Length: 11 Document Type: Term Paper

The Food and Drug Administration has published recommendations that warn pregnant women, nursing mothers, women who might become pregnant, and children not to ear swordfish, shark, tilefish, and king mackerel due to high methylmercury content. They also warn women and children to limit their consumption of tuna (DHHS/EPA, 2004). However, if guidelines are followed, these women and children are told that they can eat limited amounts of low mercury fish. What

Dental Amalgam
Words: 3716 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

Dental Amalgam The use of amalgam for dental fillings is nothing new. However, the use is also relatively controversial in some circles. While there are many companies and organizations that discuss the safety of amalgam fillings, there are many more that say these kinds of fillings are dangerous and should not be used. Which option is correct and whether it varies from person to person has to be considered. That is

Poisoning Our Planet if It
Words: 8834 Length: 20 Document Type: Term Paper

From the point-of-view of the variation and flexibility of the species such cultivated woody crops rank as no more than cornfields. While the tree farms are conveniently be stretched on the private lands, national forests those are considered priceless reservoirs of most of the biological diversity of the nation cannot expand so easily. The commercial logging is considered as the greatest danger for survival of the national forest system.

Nuclear Power for Energy and
Words: 4593 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

This can merely be helpful on local level but not at all on the global level. Radioactive materials in low quantities are present in fossil fuels, chiefly in coal and using them in heavy amounts can have more hazardous effects on the environment causing radioactive contamination globally. This is a much more pressing concern when compared to the radioactive contamination within a nuclear power station as the noxious waste in

Toxic Chemicals Amount of Toxic
Words: 1104 Length: 4 Document Type: Research Paper

Chlorine is present in many types of PVC plastic. Bisphenol -- A - this chemical is associated with polycarbonate plastic, which is often used in baby bottles and the lining of plastic food containers. It can lead to hyperactivity in children and it can weaken their ability to learn, as well. Lead is present in a large percentage of toys, as studies indicate. A consumer group that tests children's toys and

Caravaggio and Poussin Michelangelo Da
Words: 2007 Length: 7 Document Type: Term Paper

Such linkages and juxtapositions contributes to the search for hidden meanings, and concentration on Poussin's iconography shows that critics believe there is usually more meaning in the frame than a cursory look would convey. To a degree, this belies Poussin's emphasis on simply reflecting nature, for the hand of the artist is always evident in the way the frame is formed consciously around various symbols and icons as well

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now