Science: Mercury

Mercury is a heavy, silvery-white metal.  Mercury is an element on the periodic table.  Its symbol is Hg and its atomic number is 80. It is also known as quicksilver.



Mercury is used in thermometers, float valves, some electrical switches, and other scientific apparatus.

Mercury is toxic and so mercury thermometers are being phased out in favor of digital ones.  It also used to be used for amalgam fillings in dentistry.



Mercury dissolves to form amalgams with gold, zinc and many other metals. Because iron is an exception, iron flasks have been traditionally used to trade mercury.

Mercury combines easily with aluminium to form a mercury-aluminium amalgam when the two pure metals come into contact. Since the amalgam reacts with air to give aluminium oxide, small amounts of mercury corrode aluminium.

DID YOU KNOW:
Mercury is not allowed on board an aircraft because of the risk of it forming an amalgam with exposed aluminium parts in the aircraft.
Mercury was found in Egyptian tombs that date from 1500 BC.
In China and Tibet, mercury use was thought to prolong life, heal fractures, and maintain generally good health, although its usage leads to serious adverse effects.
The EU directive calling for compact fluorescent bulbs (Long life bulbs) to be made mandatory by 2012 has encouraged China to re-open deadly cinnabar mines to obtain the mercury required for CFL bulb manufacture.






Wierd



Read more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element)