What are mercury element uses?
Mercury is used in many scientific instruments such as thermometers and barometers. Due to its electrical conductivity it is used to make silent switches, while its vapor form makes it useful in streetlights and fluorescent lamps.
What is silver mercury used for?
Elemental (Metallic) Mercury Elemental or metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white metal, historically referred to as quicksilver, and is liquid at room temperature. It is used in older thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs and some electrical switches.
What was mercury used for in ancient times?
In many civilizations mercury was used to placate or chase away evil spirits. The alchemists thought that mercury, which they associated with the planet Mercury, had mystical properties and used it in their attempts to transmute base metals into gold. The Greeks knew of mercury and used it as a medicine.
What are 5 industrial uses of mercury?
What are the industrial uses of mercury?
- Electrical equipment e.g. batteries and semi-conductors.
- Medical appliances e.g. sphygmomanometers and thermometers.
- Dentistry e.g. mercury amalgams.
- Barometers.
- Paper manufacturing.
- Paints.
How was mercury element named?
Mercury is also sometimes called quicksilver or liquid silver. The chemical symbol for Mercury is Hg. Mercury was named after the Roman god. Its chemical symbol (Hg) comes from hydrargyrum from the Greek word hydrargyros meaning ‘water’ and ‘silver’.
What products use mercury?
Mercury Containing Products Commonly Found in Homes
- Thermometers.
- Thermostats.
- Button Cell Batteries.
- Fluorescent light bulbs (tubes and CFLs)
- Mercury switches (in automobiles and appliances)
- Barometers.
- Blood pressure gauges.
- Mercury-Added Novelties.
Are there any legal uses for mercury?
Elemental mercury is traditionally used in thermometers and some electrical switches. Inorganic mercury compounds or mercury salts, more commonly found in nature, include mercuric sulphide (HgS), mercuric oxide (HgO) and mercuric chloride (HgCl2).
What was mercury old name?
hydrargyrum
Today, the element is officially known as mercury on the periodic table, but it retains its Hg abbreviation—a nod to its old Latin name, hydrargyrum, which means “water silver.”
What is the most common use for mercury?
Mercury can be used to make thermometers, barometers and other scientific instruments. Mercury conducts electricity and is used to make silent, position dependent switches. Mercury vapor is used in streetlights, fluorescent lamps and advertising signs.
What is the Greek name for mercury element?
Mercury’s chemical symbol, Hg, comes from the Greek “hydrargyrum” meaning liquid silver. Mercury is also known as “quicksilver,” a reference to its mobility.