Element Family
Transition Metal
Transition Metal
Space Group Name
R_ 3m
P63/mmc
Interesting Facts
- At room temperature mercury is found in a liquid state.
- A coin of pound or rupees floats in mercury.
- Because of its low melting point and boiling point it is used in thermometers.
- Hafnium metal is highly reactive, hence not found free in nature.
- Hafnium metal as predicated after Mendeleev finished his periodic table.
Sources
Mining, Ores of Minerals
By-product Zirconium Refining
Who Discovered
Ancient Chinese and Indians
Dirk Coster and George de Hevesy
Discovery
Before 2000 BCE
In 1922
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Uses & Benefits
- It is a liquid metal at room temperature, but it is a toxic heavy metal and hence many uses of mercury are under review or phased out.
- It is manly used as a catalysts in chemical industry.
- It has an ability to absorb neutrons and hence it is used to make control rods in nuclear submarines. And this metal is also used in Plasma welding torches.
-
It alloys with iron, titanium and niobium are very useful.
Industrial Uses
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Ammunition Industry
Other Uses
Alloys, Mirror Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Industry
Alloys, In Nuclear Reactors, Nuclear Research, Research Purposes
Toxicity
Highly Toxic
Toxic
Present in Human Body
Yes
No
Physical State
Liquid
Solid
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Pauling Electropositivity
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Flammability, Ionization, Solubility
Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
[Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2
Crystal Structure
Rhombohedral (RHO)
Hexagonal Close Packed (HCP)
Crystal Lattice
RHO-Crystal-Structure-of-Mercury.jpg#100
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
-
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
-
Ductile, Malleable
Magnetic Ordering
Diamagnetic
Paramagnetic
Electrical Property
Conductor
Conductor