Mercury By Jan Roediger

The Naming of Mercury Named Mercury after the roman deity because it has a very high viscosity and therefore travels fast like the god Mercury. The Symbol for mercury is Hg because it is named after the Latin word hydrargyrum which in essence means water silver

Early Uses No one knows who discovered mercury It was known to the Egyptians and the early Chinese Thought to give everlasting life Used in alchemy Used in cosmetics

Characteristics Metal Liquid at room temperature Very Shiny High surface tension Density g per cubic centimeter Highly Toxic

Obtaining Mercury Mercury is never found in its pure state Only makes up 0.08% of the earths crust Found in combination with the stone cinnabar After mining the Cinnabar is heated and the evaporated mercury is condensed 0.08

Uses Used in thermometers Used to cool nuclear Reactors Used in blood pressure measuring devices 0.08

Mercury in Hatting Used by hatters to make the fur separate from the pelt and also to make it stick together into felt. The evaporating mercury gave of a toxic vapors which poisoned the hatters The mercury poisoning made hatters crazy Out of the traditional Quirkiness of Hatters inspired the saying “Mad as a hatter”

Works Cited “Mercury”, Jefferson Lab “Mercury”, Periodic table of elements las Alamos labs, 12/15/2003, “Mercury”, Radio chemistry.org,