mercury [Hg]

Introduction

Named after the planet Mercury, which was named for the Roman god of eloquence, skills & commerce.

The symbol Hg comes from the Latin hydargyrum meaning liquid silver.

Known since ancient times.

Occurrence

• rare in earth's crust
• found in cinnabar ore

Characteristics

• heavy, silver-white metal
• only metal that is liquid at room temperature
• very volatile: its vapors are toxic
• alloys easily with other metals
• mercury & its compounds are toxic
  • cumulative poison
  • affects central nervous system, mouth, gums & teeth

Uses

• dental amalgams
• scientific instruments
  • thermometers
  • barometers
  • diffusion pumps
• batteries
• switches
• pesticides
• vapor lamps
• advertizing signs

Laboratory

• mercury in specimen
  • mercury in water
  • mercury in milk
  • mercury in food
  • mercury in tissue
  • mercury in dentin
  • mercury in hair
  • mercury in nail
  • mercury in erythrocytes
  • mercury in body fluid
    • mercury in blood
    • mercury in CSF
    • mercury in dialysis fluid
    • mercury in saliva
    • mercury in serum/plasma
    • mercury in urine

More general terms

• chemical element
• metal

Additional terms

• Hg+2
• mercury toxicity (hydrargyria, mercurialism)
• methyl mercury (MeHg, HgCH3)

Patient information

mercury patient information

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=26623
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=23931