Mercury is not expensive like silver because the mercury is very easy to get from the places where it is found. Dimethylmercury, colorless, extremely toxic liquid.They are even more toxic than other mercury compounds since they get absorbed very easily. These contain mercury reacted with a organic molecule. Mercury(II) nitrate, soluble, white, used to make hats.Mercury(II) oxide, orange, yellow or red, does not dissolve in water like most oxides.Mercury(II) iodide, somewhat soluble, bright red.Mercury(II) chloride, white solid, corrosive sublimate.Most of them dissolve in water, making them very toxic. Mercury(II) compounds Īlso known as mercuric compounds, these are strong oxidizing agents. Mercury(I) nitrate, very slightly soluble, white.Mercury(I) iodide, a little soluble, unstable, yellow.Mercury(I) chloride, calomel, insoluble, white.Mercury(I) bromide, insouble white solid.Most of them do not dissolve in water, making them less toxic than mercury(II) compounds. Mercury(I) compounds Īlso known as mercurous compounds, these are weak reducing agents and weak oxidizing agents. The soluble ones are more toxic than the insoluble ones. One thing they have in common is that they are all toxic. Mercury(II) oxide and mercury(II) chloride are the most common mercury(II) compounds in the laboratory. Mercury(II) compounds are red, yellow, or colorless. Mercury(II) compounds are strong oxidizing agents and very corrosive. Mercury(I) chloride is one of the most common mercury(I) compounds. Many mercury(I) compounds do not dissolve in water. They react with oxygen in the air to make mercury(II) compounds. They easily disproportionate to mercury(II) compounds and mercury metal.

Mercury(I) compounds are weak oxidizing agents and weak reducing agents. Mercury forms chemical compounds in 2 oxidation states: +1 and +2. This process keeps repeating until a large amount of aluminium is dissolved.Ĭhemical compounds The aluminium oxide forms a solid and releases the mercury, which amalgamates more aluminium. Then the aluminium metal is dissolved and oxidizes to aluminium oxide. The thin layer of oxide on aluminium stops it from amalgamating (making an amalgam with) aluminium, but the oxide coating can be damaged to expose the metal. Mercury can dissolve large amounts of aluminium metal, making it dangerous to transport in aluminium containers. Iron flasks were used to trade mercury because of this. Iron, tantalum, tungsten, and platinum do not make amalgams with mercury. It can make amalgams when mixed with most metals, like aluminium, gold, and zinc. It does not dissolve in ordinary acids, but can dissolve in oxidizing acids to make mercury salts. If it is heated further, it decomposes into mercury and oxygen again. Mercury can oxidize to mercury(II) oxide when heated in air. It does not corrode in air unless hydrogen sulfide is also there, similar to silver. The ultraviolet light can kill germs or light fluorescent lamps.Ĭhemical properties Mercury makes a blue to ultraviolet color in a tube when a spark is passed through it. Mercury has seven stable (non radioactive) isotopes. Mercury may be seen as a transition metal, but it is normally seen as a post-transition metal. Mercury is one of the two elements that are liquids at standard temperature and pressure. Mercury is the only metal with a known melting point (−38.83 ☌) lower than caesium. However, it conducts electricity fairly well. Compared to other metals, it does not conduct heat well. It is heavy a chunk of iron can float on mercury. The reason for mercury being a liquid is complex. Mercury is a silvery-white liquid post-transition metal. These cosmetics sometimes hurt and made faces uglier. The Egyptians and the Romans used it in cosmetics. The ancient Greeks used mercury in ointments. However, this only made him die of liver failure, poisoning, and brain death. He died from drinking a mixture of mercury and powdered jade because he wanted to live forever. One of China's emperors, Qín Shǐ Huáng Dì, is said to have been buried in a tomb with rivers of flowing mercury. In China and Tibet, people thought using mercury would make them live longer and have better health. Ĭhinese people also knew it from long ago. Mercury was found in Egyptian tombs that are from 2000 BC. No one has the credit for finding mercury. The symbol for the planet Mercury (☿) has been used for a very long time to represent the element

Mercury element