Mercury (Hg)
transition-metalLiquid
Standard Atomic Weight
200.592 uElectron configuration
[Xe] 6s2 4f14 5d10Melting point
-38.83 °CBoiling point
356.73 °CDensity
1.35336e+4 kg/m³Oxidation states
−2, +1, +2Electronegativity (Pauling)
2Ionization energy (1st)
10.437504 eVDiscovery year
N/AAtomic radius
150 pmDetails
Mercury is a heavy, silvery transition metal with the distinctive feature of being liquid near ordinary room temperature. It has a filled 5d shell and commonly forms +1 and +2 compounds, with covalent character more prominent than in many lighter metals. Mercury has been used in instruments, electrical devices, and gold extraction, but many uses have declined because its vapor and several compounds are highly toxic.
It is a heavy, silvery-white metal; a rather poor conductor of heat, as compared with other metals, and a fair conductor of electricity. It easily forms alloys with many metals, such as gold, silver, and tin, which are called amalgams. Its ease in amalgamating with gold is made use of in the recovery of gold from its ores. The most important salts are mercury chloride (corrosive sublimate - a violent poison), mercurous chloride (calomel, occasionally still used in medicine), mercury fulminate, a detonator widely used in explosives, and mercuric sulfide (vermilion, a high-grade paint pigment). Organic mercury compounds are important. It has been found that an electrical discharge causes mercury vapor to combine with neon, argon, krypton, and xenon. These products, held together with van der Waals' forces, correspond to HgNe, HgAr, HgKr, and HgXe. Mercury is a virulent poison and is readily absorbed through the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, or through unbroken skin. It acts as a cumulative poison and dangerous levels are readily attained in air. Air saturated with mercury vapor at 20°C contains a concentration that exceeds the toxicity limits. The danger increases at higher temperatures. It is important therefore that mercury be handled with care. Containers of mercury should be securely covered and spillage should be avoided. If it is necessary to heat mercury or mercury compounds, it should be done in a well-ventilated hood. Methyl mercury is a dangerous pollutant and is now widely found in water and streams. The triple point of mercury, -38.8344C, is a fixed point on the International Temperature Scale (ITS-90).
The name derives from the Roman god Mercury, the nimble messenger of the gods, because the ancients used that name for the element known from prehistoric times. The symbol Hg derives from the Greek hydrargyrum for "liquid silver" or "quick silver".
Mercury was known to the ancient Chinese and Hindus and has been found in 3500 year old Egyptian tombs. Mercury is not usually found free in nature and is primarily obtained from the mineral cinnabar (HgS). Spain and Italy produce about half of the world's supply of Mercury.
From Greek hydoor. Known to ancient Chinese and Hindus; found in Egyptian tombs of 1500 B.C. Mercury is the only common metal liquid at ordinary temperatures. It only rarely occurs free in nature. The chief ore is cinnabar; Spain and Italy produce about 50% of the world's supply of the metal. The commercial unit for handling mercury is the "flask," which weighs 76 lb. The metal is obtained by heating cinnabar in a current of air and by condensing the vapor.
Pure mercury is a dense, mirror-bright liquid at room temperature, forming rounded droplets with high surface tension. It freezes to a soft, silvery solid below −38.83 °C and boils at 356.73 °C. Clean mercury wets few common surfaces but readily forms amalgams with many metals.
Mercury was historically important in thermometers, barometers, manometers, tilt switches, fluorescent lamps, dental amalgam, and laboratory electrodes. Some of these uses persist under restrictions or in specialized settings. Mercury vapor remains useful in certain discharge lamps, and mercury compounds have had roles as catalysts, reagents, and preservatives, though many have been replaced. Elemental mercury is still used in some artisanal and small-scale gold mining, a practice associated with substantial emissions.
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.
Mercury easily forms alloys with other metals, such as gold, silver, zinc and cadmium. These alloys are called amalgams. Amalgams are used to help extract gold from its ores, create dental fillings (in the case of silver) and help extend the life of dry cell batteries (in the case of zinc and cadmium).
Mercury forms useful compounds with other elements. Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) is a very poisonous salt and was once used to disinfect wounds. Mercurous chloride (Hg2Cl2), also called calomel, is an antiseptic used to kill bacteria. Mercuric sulfide (HgS) is used to make a red paint pigment called vermilion. Mercuric oxide (HgO) is used to make mercury batteries.
Mercury is poisonous and can enter the body through the respiratory tract, the digestive tract or directly through the skin. It accumulates in the body, eventually causing severe illness or death.
The metal is widely used in laboratory work for making thermometers, barometers, diffusion pumps, and many other instruments. It is used in making mercury-vapor lamps and advertising signs, etc. and is used in mercury switches and other electronic apparatus. Other uses are in making pesticides, Mercury cells for caustic soda and chlorine production, dental preparations, anti-fouling paint, batteries, and catalysts.
Isotopes in Earth/Planetary Science
198Hg, 200Hg, and 202Hg are stable isotopes of mercury that can be used to study environmental sources and environmental sinks of this element in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. For example, in an ecosystem, different stable isotopes of mercury can be added to an upland region for run-off evaluation, to a lake for direct deposition analysis, and to a wetland region for outflow contribution analysis (Fig. IUPAC.80.1). As a result, it is possible to determine the entry points of mercury into an ecosystem and determine how the inputs of mercury affect the accumulation of this element in local fish populations. An international consortium of scientists is conducting an experiment called METAALICUS (Mercury Experiment To Assess Atmospheric Loading In Canada and the U.S.). This experiment includes determination of whether mercury contamination in fish is old or new mercury. Tracer studies were performed in northwestern Ontario at the Experimental Lakes Area of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada [537] Toxic Substances Hydrology Program. Mercury-Contaminated Fish-Is it Old or New Mercury? U.S. Geological Survey (2014), Feb. 26; http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/mercury_contaminated_fish.html..
Isotopes Used as a Source of Radioactive Isotope(s)
202Hg is used to produce radioactive 203Hg (with a half-life of 46.6 days) via the 202Hg (n, γ) 203Hg reaction, which is used in gamma radiation calibration and medical tests.
Mercury chemistry is dominated by mercury(I) and mercury(II). Mercury(I) usually exists as the dimeric cation Hg₂²⁺, represented in mercury(I) chloride, Hg₂Cl₂. Mercury(II) chloride, HgCl₂, is more soluble and highly toxic. Mercury(II) sulfide, HgS, occurs as cinnabar and is very insoluble. Organomercury compounds such as methylmercury, CH₃Hg⁺, are environmentally important because they are readily bioaccumulated. Mercury forms amalgams with metals such as silver, gold, and tin.
See more information at the Mercury compound page.
Elemental mercury is hazardous mainly through inhalation of vapor, which is produced even at room temperature and can accumulate in poorly ventilated spaces. Soluble mercury(II) salts are corrosive and systemically toxic, while methylmercury, CH₃Hg⁺, is a potent neurotoxin that concentrates in food webs. Spills are treated as chemical contamination because droplets are persistent and difficult to remove. Heating mercury greatly increases vapor exposure.
Mercury is naturally released by volcanic activity, weathering, geothermal emissions, and ocean-atmosphere exchange, but human activities have greatly redistributed it. Coal combustion, metal smelting, waste burning, and gold mining are major anthropogenic sources. In aquatic sediments, microbes can convert inorganic mercury to methylmercury, CH₃Hg⁺, which biomagnifies in predatory fish and wildlife. Mercury can travel long distances in the atmosphere before deposition.
Mercury is produced mainly from cinnabar ore, HgS, and in some regions as a by-product of nonferrous metal processing or from recycling. Demand has fallen in many industrialized markets because of regulation and substitution in instruments, batteries, switches, and chlor-alkali technology. Supply is affected by restrictions on trade and storage as well as recovery from obsolete equipment. Significant consumption persists where alternatives are costly or poorly enforced, especially in small-scale gold extraction.
Virtually all mercury comes from cinnabar or mercury sulfide (HgS). Some sources of red cinnabar are so rich in mercury that droplets of elemental mercury can be found in random samples.
Mercury is a rare heavy element in cosmic terms. Its stable isotopes were formed chiefly by neutron-capture processes in earlier generations of stars, with later redistribution into the solar nebula. In the Solar System it is present in trace amounts in rocky bodies and meteorites, but it is volatile enough that planetary abundance depends strongly on condensation, heating, and loss processes.
- The chemical symbol Hg comes from hydrargyrum, meaning liquid silver.
- Mercury expands fairly uniformly with temperature, which made it valuable in older thermometers.
- Cinnabar, HgS, was used historically as the red pigment vermilion.
- Mercury droplets can divide into many beads, increasing surface area and vapor release.
- Aluminum structures can be damaged by mercury because amalgamation disrupts protective oxide behavior.
- Most dental amalgam is an alloy phase mixture rather than pure mercury.
Images
Properties
Physical
- Atomic radius (empirical)
- 150 pm Compare Atomic radius (empirical) of all elements →
- Covalent radius
- 132 pm Compare Covalent radius of all elements →
- Van der Waals radius
- 209 pm Compare Van der Waals radius of all elements →
- Metallic radius
- 139 pm Compare Metallic radius of all elements →
- Density
- 1.35336 × 104 kg/m³ Compare Density of all elements →
- Molar volume
- 0.0148 L/mol
- Phase at STP
- Liquid Compare Phase at STP of all elements →
- Melting point
- -38.83 °C Compare Melting point of all elements →
- Boiling point
- 356.73 °C Compare Boiling point of all elements →
- Thermal conductivity
- 8.3 W/(m·K) Compare Thermal conductivity of all elements →
- Specific heat capacity
- 0.14 J/(g·K) Compare Specific heat capacity of all elements →
- Molar heat capacity
- 27.983 J/(mol·K) Compare Molar heat capacity of all elements →
- Crystal structure
- Rhombohedral Compare Crystal structure of all elements →
Chemical
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2 Compare Electronegativity (Pauling) of all elements →
- Electronegativity (Allen)
- 1.76
- Electron affinity
- -0.5 eV (negative value — the atom is not predicted to bind an extra electron)
- Ionization energy (1st)
- 10.437504 eV Compare Ionization energy (1st) of all elements →
- Ionization energy (2nd)
- 18.756945 eV Compare Ionization energy (2nd) of all elements →
- Ionization energy (3rd)
- 34.490119 eV Compare Ionization energy (3rd) of all elements →
- Ionization energy (4th)
- 48.550167 eV Compare Ionization energy (4th) of all elements →
- Ionization energy (5th)
- 61.200211 eV Compare Ionization energy (5th) of all elements →
- Oxidation states
- −2, +1, +2 Compare Oxidation states of all elements →
- Valence electrons
- 12 Compare Valence electrons of all elements →
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 6s2 4f14 5d10
Thermodynamic
- Triple point (temperature)
- -38.8344 °C
- Critical point (temperature)
- 1491 °C
- Critical point (pressure)
- 1.67e+8 Pa
- Heat of fusion
- 0.02373426 eV Compare Heat of fusion of all elements →
- Heat of vaporization
- 0.61263409 eV Compare Heat of vaporization of all elements →
- Heat of sublimation
- 0.63636835 eV
- Heat of atomization
- 0.63636835 eV
- Atomization enthalpy
- 0.63616106 eV
Nuclear
- Protons
- 80 Compare Protons of all elements →
- Neutrons
- 122 Compare Neutrons of all elements →
- Known isotopes
- 47 Compare Known isotopes of all elements →
- Stable isotopes
- 6 Compare Stable isotopes of all elements →
- Most stable isotope
- Hg-202
Abundance
- Abundance (Earth's crust)
- 0.085 mg/kg Compare Abundance (Earth's crust) of all elements →
- Abundance (ocean)
- 3 × 10−5 mg/L Compare Abundance (ocean) of all elements →
Crystal Structure
- Lattice constant a
- 299 pm
Electronic Structure
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2 Compare Electrons per shell of all elements →
Identifiers
- CAS number
- 7439-97-6 Compare CAS number of all elements →
- Term symbol
- 1S0
- InChI
- InChI=1S/Hg
- InChI Key
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Electron Configuration Measured
Hg: 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s²[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s²1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s²Atomic model
Isotopes change neutron count, mass, and stability — not the electron configuration of a neutral atom.
Schematic atomic model, not to scale.
Atomic Fingerprint
Emission / Absorption Spectrum
Isotope Distribution
| Mass number | Atomic mass (u) | Natural abundance | Half-life |
|---|---|---|---|
| 198 Stable | 197.9667686 ± 0.00000052 | 9.9700% | Stable |
| 199 Stable | 198.96828064 ± 0.00000046 | 16.8700% | Stable |
| 200 Stable | 199.96832659 ± 0.00000047 | 23.1000% | Stable |
| 201 Stable | 200.97030284 ± 0.00000069 | 13.1800% | Stable |
| 202 Stable | 201.9706434 ± 0.00000069 | 29.8600% | Stable |
| 204 Stable | 203.97349398 ± 0.00000053 | 6.8700% | Stable |
Phase / State
Reason: between melting point (-38.83 °C) and boiling point (356.73 °C)
Schematic, not to scale
Phase transition points
Transition energies
Energy required to melt 1 mol at melting point
Energy required to vaporize 1 mol at boiling point
Energy required to sublime 1 mol at sublimation point
Density
At standard conditions
Not available for liquid phase
Advanced
Atomic Spectra
Showing 10 of 81. Sorted by ion charge (ascending).
Lines Holdings ?
| Ion | Charge | Total lines | Transition probabilities | Level designations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hg I | 0 | 754 | 53 | 708 |
| 198Hg I Isotope | 0 | 210 | 0 | 210 |
| Hg II | +1 | 554 | 446 | 463 |
| Hg III | +2 | 52 | 0 | 0 |
Levels Holdings ?
| Ion | Charge | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Hg I | 0 | 299 |
| 198Hg I Isotope | 0 | 61 |
| Hg II | +1 | 115 |
| Hg III | +2 | 94 |
| Hg IV | +3 | 61 |
| Hg V | +4 | 2 |
| Hg VI | +5 | 2 |
| Hg VII | +6 | 2 |
| Hg VIII | +7 | 2 |
| Hg IX | +8 | 2 |
Crystal structure data not available for solid phase
Crystal structure: rhombohedral
Ionic Radii
| Charge | Coordination | Spin | Radius |
|---|---|---|---|
| +1 | 3 | N/A | 97 pm |
| +1 | 6 | N/A | 119 pm |
| +2 | 2 | N/A | 69 pm |
| +2 | 4 | N/A | 96 pm |
| +2 | 6 | N/A | 102 pm |
| +2 | 8 | N/A | 113.99999999999999 pm |
Compounds
Isotopes (6)
| Mass number | Atomic mass (u) | Natural abundance | Half-life | Decay mode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 198 Stable | 197.9667686 ± 0.00000052 | 9.9700% ± 0.2000% | Stable | stable | |
| 199 Stable | 198.96828064 ± 0.00000046 | 16.8700% ± 0.2200% | Stable | stable | |
| 200 Stable | 199.96832659 ± 0.00000047 | 23.1000% ± 0.1900% | Stable | stable | |
| 201 Stable | 200.97030284 ± 0.00000069 | 13.1800% ± 0.0900% | Stable | stable | |
| 202 Stable | 201.9706434 ± 0.00000069 | 29.8600% ± 0.2600% | Stable | stable | |
| 204 Stable | 203.97349398 ± 0.00000053 | 6.8700% ± 0.1500% | Stable | stable |
Spectral Lines
Showing 50 of 218. Only spectral lines with measured intensity are shown by default.
| Wavelength (nm) | Intensity | Ion stage | Type | Transition | Accuracy | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 542.5249 nm | 8000000 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.6d 2D → 5d10.5f 2F* | Measured | NIST | |
| 587.12779 nm | 1200000 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.7p 2P* → 5d10.7d 2D | Measured | NIST | |
| 559.526 nm | 200000 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.6d 2D → 5d10.5f 2F* | Measured | NIST | |
| 520.4768 nm | 150000 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6d [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2] → 5d9.6s.5f [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,7/2]* | Measured | NIST | |
| 629.123 nm | 65000 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.5f 2F* → 5d10.6g 2G | Measured | NIST | |
| 639.4888 nm | 55000 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.5f 2F* → 5d10.6g 2G | Measured | NIST | |
| 380.63154 nm | 50000 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.7p 2P* → 5d10.8d 2D | Measured | NIST | |
| 439.8623 nm | 40000 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.7p 2P* → 5d10.8d 2D | Measured | NIST | |
| 521.6379 nm | 40000 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6d [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2] → 5d9.6s.5f [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2]* | Measured | NIST | |
| 466.0216 nm | 30000 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6p (2D<3/2>,3P<1>)* → 5d10.7d 2D | Measured | NIST | |
| 527.7593 nm | 18000 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6d [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2] → 5d9.6s.5f [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2]* | Measured | NIST | |
| 482.5564 nm | 17000 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6d [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,3/2] → 5d9.6s.5f [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2]* | Measured | NIST | |
| 514.6293 nm | 15000 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6d [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2] → 5d9.6s.5f [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2]* | Measured | NIST | |
| 404.65643 nm | 12000 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 3P* → 5d10.6s.7s 3S | Measured | NIST | |
| 435.83363 nm | 12000 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 3P* → 5d10.6s.7s 3S | Measured | NIST | |
| 383.9255 nm | 10000 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.7s 2S → 5d9.6s.6p (2D<3/2>,1P<1>)* | Measured | NIST | |
| 546.07498 nm | 6000 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 3P* → 5d10.6s.7s 3S | Measured | NIST | |
| 391.43142 nm | 5000 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6p (2D<3/2>,3P<2>)* → 5d9.6s.7s [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,1/2] | Measured | NIST | |
| 412.0447 nm | 4000 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.7p 2P* → 5d10.9s 2S | Measured | NIST | |
| 449.28309 nm | 2800 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.6d 2D → 5d10.8p 2P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 664.66839 nm | 1300 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s2 2D → 5d9.6s2 2D | Measured | NIST | |
| 506.6497 nm | 1200 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6d [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,3/2] → 5d9.6s.5f [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,7/2]* | Measured | NIST | |
| 382.89121 nm | 1000 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6p (2D<3/2>,3P<2>)* → 5d9.6s.7s [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,1/2] | Measured | NIST | |
| 407.7837 nm | 1000 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 3P* → 5d10.6s.7s 1S | Measured | NIST | |
| 576.96095 nm | 1000 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 1P* → 5d10.6s.6d 3D | Measured | NIST | |
| 690.746 nm | 1000 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 3S → 5d10.6s.8p 3P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 708.1901 nm | 1000 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 3S → 5d10.6s.8p 3P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 579.06705 nm | 900 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 1P* → 5d10.6s.6d 1D | Measured | NIST | |
| 709.186 nm | 800 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 3S → 5d10.6s.8p 3P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 567.588 nm | 600 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 3S → 5d10.6s.9p 1P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 671.636 nm | 600 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 1S → 5d9.6s2.(2D<5/2>).6p 2[3/2]* | Measured | NIST | |
| 580.3783 nm | 400 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 1S → 5d10.6s.10p 1P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 474.2296 nm | 300 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6d [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,3/2] → 5d9.6s.5f [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,7/2]* | Measured | NIST | |
| 434.74951 nm | 150 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 1P* → 5d10.6s.7d 1D | Measured | NIST | |
| 594.7682 nm | 150 | Hg II | emission | 5d10.7d 2D → 5d10.8f 2F* | Measured | NIST | |
| 535.4036 nm | 130 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 3S → 5d10.6s.10p 3P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 585.9254 nm | 130 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 3S → 5d10.6s.9p 3P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 496.017 nm | 100 | Hg I | emission | 5d9.6s2.(2D<5/2>).6p 2[7/2]* → 5d9.6s2.(2D<5/2>).7s 2[5/2] | Measured | NIST | |
| 510.0945 nm | 100 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6d [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2] → 5d9.6s.5f [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,7/2]* | Measured | NIST | |
| 410.8054 nm | 70 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 1P* → 5d10.6s.9s 1S | Measured | NIST | |
| 512.0637 nm | 70 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 3S → 5d10.6s.11p 3P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 509.8561 nm | 60 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6d [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2] → 5d9.6s.5f [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,5/2]* | Measured | NIST | |
| 380.16582 nm | 50 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 1P* → 5d10.6s.10s 1S | Measured | NIST | |
| 382.037 nm | 50 | Hg I | emission | 5d9.6s2.(2D<5/2>).6p 2[7/2]* → 5d9.6s2.(2D<5/2>).7s 2[5/2] | Measured | NIST | |
| 404.7742 nm | 50 | Hg II | emission | 5d9.6s.6p (2D<3/2>,3P<2>)* → 5d9.6s.7s [(2D<5/2>,1/2)<3>,1/2] | Measured | NIST | |
| 433.92228 nm | 50 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 1P* → 5d10.6s.7d 3D | Measured | NIST | |
| 538.4627 nm | 50 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 3S → 5d10.6s.10p 3P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 554.9636 nm | 50 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 1S → 5d10.6s.11p 1P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 623.435 nm | 50 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.7s 1S → 5d10.6s.9p 1P* | Measured | NIST | |
| 390.6383 nm | 40 | Hg I | emission | 5d10.6s.6p 1P* → 5d10.6s.8d 1D | Measured | NIST |
Extended Properties
Covalent Radii (Extended)
- Covalent radius (Pyykkö)
- 133 pm
- Covalent radius (Pyykkö, double)
- 142 pm
Van der Waals Radii
- Batsanov
- 205 pm
- Alvarez
- 245 pm
- UFF
- 270.5 pm
- MM3
- 253 pm
Atomic & Metallic Radii
- Atomic radius (Rahm)
- 229 pm
- Metallic radius (C12)
- 151 pm
Numbering Scales
- Mendeleev
- 79
- Pettifor
- 74
- Glawe
- 76
Electronegativity Scales
- Ghosh
- 0
- Miedema
- 4
- Gunnarsson–Lundqvist
- 4
- Robles–Bartolotti
- 3
Polarizability & Dispersion
- Dipole polarizability
- 33.91 a.u.
- Dipole polarizability (unc.)
- 0.34 a.u.
- C₆ (Gould–Bučko)
- 268 Ha·Bohr6
Miedema Parameters
- Miedema molar volume
- 14.08 cm3/mol
- Miedema electron density
- 2
Supply Risk & Economics
- Production concentration
- 74
- Relative supply risk
- 9
- Reserve distribution
- 29
- Political stability (top producer)
- 24
- Political stability (top reserve)
- 23
Phase Transitions & Allotropes
| Melting point | 234.32 K |
| Boiling point | 629.77 K |
| Critical point (temperature) | 1764.15 K |
| Critical point (pressure) | 167 MPa |
| Triple point (temperature) | 234.32 K |
Oxidation State Categories
Advanced Reference Data
Screening Constants (14)
| n | Orbital | σ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | s | 1.5419 |
| 2 | p | 4.499 |
| 2 | s | 20.8906 |
| 3 | d | 13.4804 |
| 3 | p | 22.4798 |
| 3 | s | 23.4587 |
| 4 | d | 37.532 |
| 4 | f | 38.2392 |
| 4 | p | 35.594 |
| 4 | s | 34.7552 |
Crystal Radii Detail (6)
| Charge | CN | Spin | rcrystal (pm) | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | III | 111 | ||
| 1 | VI | 133 | ||
| 2 | II | 83 | ||
| 2 | IV | 110 | ||
| 2 | VI | 116 | ||
| 2 | VIII | 128 | from r^3 vs V plots, |
Isotope Decay Modes (76)
| Isotope | Mode | Intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 170 | A | 100% |
| 171 | A | 100% |
| 171 | B+ | — |
| 172 | A | 100% |
| 172 | B+ | — |
| 173 | A | 100% |
| 174 | A | 100% |
| 174 | B+ | — |
| 175 | A | 100% |
| 175 | B+ | — |
X‑ray Scattering Factors (516)
| Energy (eV) | f₁ | f₂ |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | — | 3.07253 |
| 10.1617 | — | 3.05926 |
| 10.3261 | — | 3.04605 |
| 10.4931 | — | 3.0329 |
| 10.6628 | — | 3.0198 |
| 10.8353 | — | 3.00676 |
| 11.0106 | — | 3.02448 |
| 11.1886 | — | 3.04517 |
| 11.3696 | — | 3.066 |
| 11.5535 | — | 3.08698 |
Additional Data
Estimated Crustal Abundance
The estimated element abundance in the earth's crust.
8.5×10-2 milligrams per kilogram
References (1)
Estimated Oceanic Abundance
The estimated element abundance in the earth's oceans.
3×10-5 milligrams per liter
References (1)
References
(9)
Data deposited in or computed by PubChem
The half-life and atomic mass data was provided by the Atomic Mass Data Center at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Element data are cited from the Atomic weights of the elements (an IUPAC Technical Report). The IUPAC periodic table of elements can be found at https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/. Additional information can be found within IUPAC publication doi:10.1515/pac-2015-0703 Copyright © 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
The information are cited from Pure Appl. Chem. 2018; 90(12): 1833-2092, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0703.
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is one of 17 national laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab's primary mission is to conduct basic research of the atom's nucleus using the lab's unique particle accelerator, known as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). For more information visit https://www.jlab.org/
The periodic table at the LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory) contains basic element information together with the history, source, properties, use, handling and more. The provenance data may be found from the link under the source name.
The periodic table contains NIST's critically-evaluated data on atomic properties of the elements. The provenance data that include data for atomic spectroscopy, X-ray and gamma ray, radiation dosimetry, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics may be found from the link under the source name. Ref: https://www.nist.gov/pml/atomic-spectra-database
This section provides all form of data related to element Mercury.
The element property data was retrieved from publications.