Physical properties
State: Silvery white liquid metal
Density: 13.534 g/cm³ (13.5 times heavier than water)
Melting point: -38.83°C
Boiling point: 356.73°C
Electrical conductivity: Good
Volatility: It will slowly evaporate into colorless and odorless mercury vapor at room temperature
2. Chemical properties
It is not easy to oxidize, but it will form mercuric oxide under high temperature or strong oxidizing agent
Reacts with sulfur, chlorine, nitric acid, and concentrated sulfuric acid to form different mercury compounds
Can form amalgam (alloy) with gold, silver, aluminum, etc.
Uses of Mercury
1. Scientific and measuring instruments
Thermometers, barometers, sphygmomanometers, etc. (traditional products)
Reference electrodes in laboratories (such as mercury/potassium sulfate electrodes)
2. Industrial uses
Amalgam method for producing chlorine and sodium hydroxide (phased out)
Used in fluorescent lamps and energy-saving lamps
Used for gold extraction in metal refining (gold panning method, banned in some countries)
3. Medical field
Once used as disinfectant (such as mercuric chloride solution) and bactericide, but mostly eliminated due to toxicity