Symbol	Hg
Atomic number	80
Group	12 (Zinc group)
Period	6
Block	d
Classification	Transition Metal

Appearance	Silvery
Color	Silver

Number of protons	80 p+
Number of neutrons	121 n0
Number of electrons	80 e-

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaMercury is a chemical element with symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is commonly known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum (/haɪˈdrɑːrdʒərəm/). A heavy, silvery d-block element, mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure; the only other element that is liquid under these conditions is bromine, though metals such as caesium, gallium, and rubidium melt just above room temperature.

Phase at STP	Liquid
Density	13.534 g/cm3
Atomic weight	200.592 u

Melting point	234.321 K -38.829 °C -37.8922 °F
Boiling point	629.88 K 356.73 °C 674.114 °F
Heat of vaporization	59.3 kJ/mol

Electronegativity (Pauling Scale)	2
Electron affinity	-48 kJ/mol
Oxidation states	−2 , +1, +2 (a mildly basic oxide)
Ionization energies	1007.1 kJ/mol 1810 kJ/mol 3300 kJ/mol

Electron configuration Shorthand configuration	[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
Electron configuration Full configuration	1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2
Electron configuration chart	1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2
Electrons per shell	2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2
Valence electrons	2
Valency electrons	1,2
Bohr model	Figure: Shell diagram of Mercury (Hg) atom.
Orbital Diagram 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s 4p 4d 4f 5s 5p 5d 6s

Discovery

Egyptians (1500 BC)

Discovery of mercury Mercury was found in Egyptian tombs that date from 1500 BC. In China and Tibet, mercury use was thought to prolong life, heal fractures, and maintain generally good health, although it is now known that exposure to mercury vapor leads to serious adverse health effects. Alchemists thought of mercury as the First Matter from which all metals were formed. They believed that different metals could be produced by varying the quality and quantity of sulfur contained within the mercury. The purest of these was gold, and mercury was called for in attempts at the transmutation of base (or impure) metals into gold, which was the goal of many alchemists.

CAS Number	7439-97-6
ChemSpider ID	22373
EC number	231-106-7
PubChem CID Number	23931