Mercury Mercury (Hg)(Hg)

Mercury Mercury (Hg)(Hg)

By Noble CarpenterBy Noble Carpenter

Who discovered Mercury?Who discovered Mercury?Who discovered Mercury?Who discovered Mercury? Discovered by ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Hindus, and Romans It was found in the Egyptian tombs It is named after the the Roman God who was a swift

messenger

Discovered by ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Hindus, and Romans It was found in the Egyptian tombs It is named after the the Roman God who was a swift

messenger

Mercury’s CharacteristicsMercury’s CharacteristicsMercury’s CharacteristicsMercury’s Characteristics It is a a very heavy liquid Three types of mercury: elemental, inorganic, and organic mercury All types are toxic Silver and white Found at trace levels in many minerals Greater concentrations in fossil fuels Three valence states: elemental (Hg0), monovalent-mercurous (Hg1+), and the

divalent mercuric (Hg2+) Slightly water-soluble Vapors of elemental mercury can occur at room temperature Inorganic mercury compounds contain ionic mercury usually in a salt

formation

It is a a very heavy liquid Three types of mercury: elemental, inorganic, and organic mercury All types are toxic Silver and white Found at trace levels in many minerals Greater concentrations in fossil fuels Three valence states: elemental (Hg0), monovalent-mercurous (Hg1+), and the

divalent mercuric (Hg2+) Slightly water-soluble Vapors of elemental mercury can occur at room temperature Inorganic mercury compounds contain ionic mercury usually in a salt

formation

Sources of the Element Sources of the Element MercuryMercury

Sources of the Element Sources of the Element MercuryMercury

Naturally occurring element normally found in small amounts in rocks, soils, and the oceans

Never breaks down into a less dangerous form Some natural sources of mercury but humans are responsible

for nearly two-thirds of the mercury currently circulating in our environment

Methylmercury [CH3Hg] is the most toxic form Affects the immune system, alters genetic and enzyme

systems, and damages the nervous system (coordination and the senses of touch taste, and sight)

Naturally occurring element normally found in small amounts in rocks, soils, and the oceans

Never breaks down into a less dangerous form Some natural sources of mercury but humans are responsible

for nearly two-thirds of the mercury currently circulating in our environment

Methylmercury [CH3Hg] is the most toxic form Affects the immune system, alters genetic and enzyme

systems, and damages the nervous system (coordination and the senses of touch taste, and sight)

Uses of Uses of MercuryMercuryUses of Uses of MercuryMercury

Mercury is found in light switches because conducts electricity Mercury is found in most paints because gives the paint color Mercury is found in thermometers and when above -38.8

degrees Celsius It is used in thermometers so that it expands, telling the

temperature Mercury is found in remote batteries and is used to store the

energy in the battery Used in engineering and factories

Mercury is found in light switches because conducts electricity Mercury is found in most paints because gives the paint color Mercury is found in thermometers and when above -38.8

degrees Celsius It is used in thermometers so that it expands, telling the

temperature Mercury is found in remote batteries and is used to store the

energy in the battery Used in engineering and factories

Mercury’s Bohr DiagramMercury’s Bohr DiagramMercury’s Bohr DiagramMercury’s Bohr Diagram

It has 80 protons and electrons

It has 121 neutrons The Atomic Mass of Mercury is

200.59

It has 80 protons and electrons

It has 121 neutrons The Atomic Mass of Mercury is

200.59

Pictures of MercuryPictures of MercuryPictures of MercuryPictures of Mercury

Liquid form of Mercury

Thermometer with Mercury

Things containing Mercury

CitationCitation Bentor, Yinon. “Chemical Element” Mercury. May 30, 2007

http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/hg.html

Calvert, J. B. “Mercury” Physics Today. 5 November 2002.http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/phys/mercury.htm

Anonymous. “Characteristics of Mercury” University of Minnesota. 1990. http://enhs.umn.edu/hazards/hazardssite/mercury/merccharacter.html

Helmenstine, A.M. “All Info About Chemistry” Los Alamos National Laboratory. 2001. http://chemistry.allinfoabout.com/periodic/hg.html

Bentor, Yinon. “Chemical Element” Mercury. May 30, 2007 http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/hg.html

Calvert, J. B. “Mercury” Physics Today. 5 November 2002.http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/phys/mercury.htm

Anonymous. “Characteristics of Mercury” University of Minnesota. 1990. http://enhs.umn.edu/hazards/hazardssite/mercury/merccharacter.html

Helmenstine, A.M. “All Info About Chemistry” Los Alamos National Laboratory. 2001. http://chemistry.allinfoabout.com/periodic/hg.html

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