Hg
200.590Mercury
Cıva
Mercury is a group 12 transition metal with atomic number 80 and symbol Hg. It is the only metal liquid at room temperature and is known for toxicity, methylmercury biomagnification, Minamata disease, historical thermometers and fluorescent lamps.
80
200.59 g/mol
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s²
2 | 8 | 18 | 32 | 18 | 2
2
13.534 g/cm³
-38.83 °C
356.7 °C
Antik çağ
Mercury has been known since ancient times. Its symbol Hg comes from Latin hydrargyrum, meaning liquid silver. It was used in barometers and thermometers, and industrial mercury pollution later became infamous through Minamata disease in Japan.
Mercury-196
Natural abundance: About 0.15%. Rare stable isotope of mercury.Mercury-198
Natural abundance: About 10.0%. Stable isotope of mercury.Mercury-199
Natural abundance: About 16.9%. NMR-active stable isotope.Mercury-200
Natural abundance: About 23.1%. Stable isotope of mercury.Mercury-201
Natural abundance: About 13.2%. NMR-active stable isotope.Mercury-202
Natural abundance: About 29.9%. Most abundant natural mercury isotope.Mercury-204
Natural abundance: About 6.9%. Stable isotope of mercury.HgCl₂
Mercury(II) ChlorideHighly toxic mercury compound with historical antiseptic and preservative uses.Hg₂Cl₂
CalomelMercury(I) chloride used in calomel reference electrodes and historical medicine.CH₃Hg⁺
MethylmercuryEnvironmental toxicant that biomagnifies in aquatic food chains.HgS
Mercury(II) SulfideCinnabar ore and vermilion pigment source.- Historical thermometers, barometers and manometers, now widely replaced because of toxicity
- Fluorescent and mercury-vapor lamps, where mercury vapor emits ultraviolet light
- Dental amalgam fillings, now restricted or reduced in many regions
- Artisanal gold extraction by mercury amalgamation, a major pollution source
- Chemical and electrochemical applications that have declined under mercury-control regulations
Mercury has no essential biological role and is toxic in elemental, inorganic and organic forms. Methylmercury is especially dangerous because it accumulates in aquatic food chains and can damage the nervous system.
- Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at ordinary room temperature.
- Relativistic effects help explain mercury’s weak metal-metal bonding and unusually low melting point.
- Methylmercury biomagnifies, so large predatory fish can contain higher mercury levels than surrounding water.
- The Minamata Convention is an international treaty aimed at reducing mercury pollution and exposure.
- Mercury has atomic number 80 and symbol Hg.
- Its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s².
- Common oxidation states are +1 and +2.
- Remember mercury for liquid metal behavior, toxicity and methylmercury biomagnification.
What is the atomic number of mercury?
The atomic number of mercury is 80.
What is the electron configuration of mercury?
Mercury has the electron configuration [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s².
What is mercury used for?
Mercury has been used in thermometers, barometers, fluorescent lamps, dental amalgams and gold extraction, though many uses are now restricted because of toxicity.
Why is mercury liquid at room temperature?
Mercury has unusually weak metal-metal bonding, partly due to relativistic effects on its filled 6s electrons, giving it a very low melting point for a metal.
Why is methylmercury dangerous?
Methylmercury accumulates in organisms and biomagnifies in food chains, where it can damage the nervous system.
What is Minamata disease?
Minamata disease is mercury poisoning caused by industrial methylmercury pollution that contaminated seafood in Minamata, Japan.