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What are
the Properties of Mercury? Definition of Mercury
What is the definition of
Mercury? It is a silver white poisonous metallic element with a mirror-like
appearance. It is a liquid at room temperature and used in thermometers,
barometers, vapor lamps, and batteries and in chemical pesticides. The
Physical and
Chemical Properties are the
characteristics of a substance, like Mercury, which distinguishes it from any
other substance. Most common substances, like Mercury, exist as
States of Matter as solids, liquids, gases and plasma. Refer to the article on
Mercury for additional information and facts about this substance.
Mercury Properties
- What are the Physical Properties of Mercury?
What are the Physical
Properties of Mercury? The Physical properties of Mercury are the characteristics
that can be observed without changing the substance into another
substance. Physical properties are usually those that can be observed using our
senses such as color, luster, freezing point, boiling point, melting point, density, hardness and odor. The Physical Properties of Mercury are as follows:
|
What are the Physical Properties of Mercury? |
| Color |
Silver-White mirror-like
appearance |
| Luster |
Mirror like |
|
Conductivity |
Good transmission of heat or electricity |
| Surface Tension |
High surface tension. When mercury is
spilled, it breaks up into tiny beads which often become lodged in
cracks |
| Density |
High Density |
Mercury Properties - What are the Chemical Properties of Mercury?
What are the Chemical
Properties of Mercury? They are the characteristics that
determine how it will react with other substances or change from
one substance to another. The better we know the nature of the substance the
better we are able to understand it. Chemical properties are only observable during a
chemical reaction. Reactions to substances may be brought
about by changes brought about by burning, rusting, heating, exploding, tarnishing
etc. The Chemical
Properties of Mercury are as follows:
|
What are the Chemical Properties of Mercury? |
| Chemical
Formula |
Hg |
|
Toxicity |
Highly toxic |
|
Reactivity with acids |
Reacts with some acids when
they are hot, but does not react with most cold acids |
|
Oxidation |
Does
not readily react with oxygen in the air |
| Compounds |
Many of mercury's compounds
are pigments, pesticides and medicines.
Vermilion, a vivid red pigment is a chemical compound of mercury and
sulfur and is known as red sulfide of mercury
Mercuric chloride HgCl2, is used as an insecticide, in rat poison |
| Amalgam |
Mercury forms a special
type of alloy called an amalgam which is an alloy containing
mercury. An amalgam of mercury, silver and tin is used in dentistry
for filling teeth. |
Facts and
Info about Mercury Properties
This article
on Mercury properties provide facts and information about the
physical and chemical properties of Mercury which are useful as
homework help for chemistry students. Additional facts and
information regarding the Periodic Table and the elements may be
accessed via the Periodic Table Site Map. |
