80
Hg
Mercury
200.6



By Kaitlyn Parnell

POSTION OF ELEMENT

• Mercury belongs to the Carbon Family
• Mercury is in period 6
• Mercury is a Transition Metal
• Mercury has 2 Valance Electrons

DISCOVERY

The oldest sample of mercury dates to about the fifteenth or sixteen century B.C. It was found in an Egyptian tomb at Kurna, stored in a small glass container.

Main Source

Mercury is an element found in the earths crust.

Because it toxicity many uses of mercury has been phased out.

Mercury was found in fluorescent lights, felt production, thermometers, and bar meters.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Mercury is found in many rocks including coal. When mercury is burned, mercury is released into the environment.
Coal-burning power plants are the largest human-caused source of mercury emissions to the air in the U.S.

Main properties

Mercury is the only common metal which is liquid at ordinary temperatures. Mercury is sometimes called quicksilver. It is a heavy, silvery-white liquid metal. It is a rather poor conductor of heat if compared with other metals but it is a fair conductor of electricity.

Mercury affects the central nervous system. It damages the brain, liver, kidneys, and blood. Direct contact with mercury can cause irritation and chemical burns.

ISOTOPES

Seven naturally occurring isotopes of mercury are known. They are mercury-196, mercury-198, mercury-199, mercury-200, mercury-201, mercury-202, and mercury-204.

Untitled Slide

SOURCES

• Www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2004/hooper/uses.htm
• Chemistryexplained.com
• http://www.epa.gov/mercury/about.htm
• http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/80/mercury
• http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/hg.htm