Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is a metal which is liquid at standard conditions of temperature and pressure. Liquid mercury is highly volatile and even at ordinary room temperature gives off a toxic vapour that is readily absorbed into the body via the lungs.
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Most of the world’s mercury is obtained from the bright red mineral cinnabar (mercury sulphide) and is chiefly found in rocks that are associated with volcanic action. In recent years, world production has fallen as reserves have become depleted. Italy, Slovenia, the United States and Mexico, which were formerly leading producers have been largely mined out. Most mercury production today takes place in Spain, Kyrgyzstan, China, and Tajikistan.
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Despite its toxicity mercury has many uses, chiefly within the need of pharmaceuticals, fungicides and dentistry. Mercury does not stick to glass or wet it. This and the fact that it expands easily and rapidly as the temperature increases makes mercury ideal for thermometers and barometers. Mercury also is a good thermal conductor, making it an excellent shield and coolant in nuclear reactors. Mercury vapour is used instead of steam in the boilers of some turbine engines. Since Mercury is not attacked by dry air, oxygen, or carbon dioxide at room temperature, it forms an excellent conductor of electricity. This makes it useful in sealed electrical switches and relays. In vapour form, electrical charges cause mercury to produce a bluish glow in ultraviolet light. This characteristic puts mercury to use in vapour lamps. Mercury dissolves many metals, including sodium, potassium, tin, copper, gold and silver forming alloys called amalgams. As it does not amalgamate with iron, mercury is often stored in iron containers.
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