Gold vs Mercury
Side-by-side comparison of Gold (Au, element 79) and Mercury (Hg, element 80) by atomic structure and physical properties.
| Property | Au Gold | Hg Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic number | 79 | 80 |
| Symbol | Au | Hg |
| Name | Gold | Mercury |
| Category | transition-metal | transition-metal |
| Standard Atomic Weight | 196.966569 u | 200.592 u |
| Period | 6 | 6 |
| Group | 11 | 12 |
| Block | d | d |
| Phase at STP | Solid | Liquid |
| Electron configuration | [Xe]4f145d106s1 | [Xe]4f145d106s2 |
| Oxidation states | [-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 5] | [-2, 1, 2] |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.54 | 2 |
| Electron affinity | 2.3086 eV | -0.5 eV |
| Density | 1.9282e+4 kg/m³ | 1.35336e+4 kg/m³ |
| Melting point | 1064.18 °C | -38.83 °C |
| Boiling point | 2855.85 °C | 356.73 °C |
| Discovery year | N/A | N/A |
Key Differences
| Property | Au Gold | Hg Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Atomic Weight | 196.966569 u ↓ lower | 200.592 u ↑ higher |
| Density | 1.9282e+4 kg/m³ ↑ higher | 1.35336e+4 kg/m³ ↓ lower |
| Melting point | 1064.18 °C ↑ higher | -38.83 °C ↓ lower |
| Boiling point | 2855.85 °C ↑ higher | 356.73 °C ↓ lower |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.54 ↑ higher | 2 ↓ lower |
| Electron affinity | 2.3086 eV ↑ higher | -0.5 eV ↓ lower |
| Group | 11 | 12 |
| Phase at STP | Solid | Liquid |
| Electron configuration | [Xe]4f145d106s1 | [Xe]4f145d106s2 |