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Mercury is one of the basic chemical elements. It is a heavy, silvery metal that is liquid at normal temperatures. Mercury readily forms alloys with other metals, and this makes it useful in processing gold and silver.
The natural levels of mercury in the Earth’s crust vary from place to place, but average about 50 mg per tonne of rock. Mercury is mined when present in cinnabar ores, which generally contain about 10 kg per tonne of rock.
Mercury is packaged in cast-iron, wrought-iron, or spun-steel bottles or flasks 10 to 18 centimetres (4 to 7 inches) in diameter and about 30 centimetres high. The net weight of one flask of mercury is 34.5 kilogram (76 pounds), the commercial unit of world trade.
Mercury occurs in deposits throughout the world mostly as cinnabar (mercuric sulfide). The red pigment vermilion is obtained by grinding natural cinnabar or synthetic mercuric sulfide.
Mercury processing, preparation of the ore for use in various products. Mercury (Hg) has a unique combination of physical properties. Its low melting point (−38.87 °C [−38 °F]) and boiling point (356.9 °C [674 °F]), high specific gravity (13.5 grams per cubic centimetre), uniform volume expansion.
Solved Example. Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs. What is Mercury? Mercury is a chemical element and the only common metal which is liquid at ordinary temperatures. It is commonly known as quicksilver and is heavy, silvery-white liquid metal. Mercury is a transition metal. As a chemical element, mercury cannot be created or destroyed.
Apr 24, 2013 · Mercury is found all over the world as an ore in combination with cinnabar. It tends to be found in high concentrations in geographic regions where there are hot springs or volcanos.
Mercury is a rare and toxic metal that has many uses in industry and medicine. Learn how it is mined in China, Spain and California in this article from BBC Science Focus Magazine.
Mercury is often obtained as a by-product during the process of gold mining. Some other natural alloys of mercury have also been found, including potarite (with palladium) gold amalgam and moschellandsbergite (with silver), but these are extremely rare.
Jul 12, 2024 · Mercury is extracted from cinnabar by roasting it in air, followed by condensation of the mercury vapour. Because of the toxicity of mercury and the threat of rigid pollution control , attention is being directed toward safer methods of extracting mercury.
