Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at standard temperature and pressure. The only other liquid element under standard conditions is bromine (a halogen), although the metals rubidium, cesium, and gallium melt at a temperature just above room temperature.
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What is unusual about mercury element?
Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at standard temperature and pressure. The only other liquid element under standard conditions is bromine (a halogen), although the metals rubidium, cesium, and gallium melt at a temperature just above room temperature.
What is mercury element famous for?
A heavy, silvery d-block element, mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure; the only other element that is liquid under these conditions is the halogen bromine, though metals such as caesium, gallium, and rubidium melt just above room temperature.
What are some unique properties of mercury?
Mercury has a relatively high vapour pressure and the highest volatility of any metal, vapourizing to become a colourless, odourless gas. The metal is a fair conductor of electricity, but a poor conductor of heat. Mercury’s atomic number is 80.
What are 5 interesting facts about mercury element?
Mercury looks pretty, in its shiny, fast-moving liquid form, but don’t touch! It can be extremely poisonous to humans. The symbol Hg that mercury is known by comes from its Greek name, hydrargyrum, which means “liquid silver” — to reflect its shiny surface. The element is also known as quicksilver for its mobility.
What are 5 interesting facts about mercury?
It’s not known who discovered Mercury.
- A year on Mercury is just 88 days long.
- Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System.
- Mercury is the second densest planet.
- Mercury has wrinkles.
- Mercury has a molten core.
- Mercury is only the second hottest planet.
- Mercury is the most cratered planet in the Solar System.
What happens when mercury touches gold?
Freddie Mercury may have had the golden voice, but real mercury, that endlessly entertaining and dangerous liquid metal, has the golden touch. That is, if it touches gold it will immediately break the lattice bonds of the precious metal and form an alloy in a process known as amalgamation.
Why mercury is called quicksilver?
Mercury is also known as “quicksilver,” a reference to its mobility. Speed and mobility were characteristics of the Roman god, Mercury, who served as a messenger to all the other gods and shared his name with the planet nearest the sun.
Why is mercury named mercury?
Mercury is one of the five classical planets visible with the naked eye and is named after the swift-footed Roman messenger god.