Can Elemental Mercury Be a Solid?
Anwer at Glance: Elemental mercury can exist as a solid at temperatures below -38.83°C/-37.89°F.
Dig Deeper:
- States of Matter
- Mercury Is Liquid in Nature
- States of Matter in Which Mercury Can Exist
- Conditions When Mercury Is Solid
- Conditions When Mercury Is Solid
- Cool Fact
- Resources
States of Matter
The three (loosely speaking, since plasma is sometimes considered a fourth) states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. [1] Which of these three states the substance exists in will depend upon the temperature and pressure exerted on the substance. Unlike the 88 elemental metals and six metalloids on the periodic table that are found naturally in a solid state at room temperature, mercury is the only liquid elemental metal. [2]
Mercury Is Liquid In Nature
In nature mercury is found naturally in a liquid state. According to The Royal Society of Chemistry, mercury is widespread in the environment and is present in every living thing. Interestingly, it rarely occurs uncombined in nature but can be found in droplets in cinnabar ores. [3]
Cinnabar is a striking red, toxic mercury sulfide mineral usually forming in shallow depths near hot springs, fumaroles, and recent volcanic activity. [4]
States of Matter In Which Mercury Can Exist
Mercury, a truly unique element, can exist in three distinct states of matter: liquid, solid, and gas. Despite being the only liquid elemental metal, mercury is not bound by its liquid state. It can transform into a gas or a solid under extreme temperatures. [5]
Conditions When Mercury Is Solid
Mercury will solidify at -38.83°C/-37.89°F. [6]There are several places where temperatures reach these frigid levels, like Antarctica, Greenland, and northern Siberia. This is why mercury thermometers cannot be used to measure temperature in these frigid regions where the temperatures can plummet well below that point. [7]
Conditions When Mercury Is Gas
Elemental mercury will become gas when heated to 356.62 °C (673.91 °F). [8] This is not an experiment for the novice. Elemental mercury vapor is highly toxic when inhaled. According to the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Division of Research Safety, “Heating mercury dramatically increases its evaporation and the potential for exposure. Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause severe neurological damage and death. ” [9]
Cool Fact
Why Is Mercury’s Chemical Symbol Hg?
While it’s easy to understand why the chemical symbol for carbon is “C” and hydrogen is “H,” the origin of mercury’s symbol, Hg, is less obvious. The name mercury is derived from the Latin hydrargyrum, which means “liquid silver.” [10]
Resources
- [1] UCAR Center for Science Education – “Plasma.“
- [2] Royal Society of Chemistry – “Interactive Periodic Table.“
- [3] Royal Society of Chemistry – “Element – Mercury.“
- [4] Geology.com – “Cinnabar: A Toxic Ore of Mercury, Once Used As a Pigment.“
- [5][6][8][10] Britannica.com – “Mercury – Chemical Element.“
- [7] NASA – Scientific Visualization Studio – “Coldest Place on Earth.“
- [9] University of Illinois Urbana Champaign – Division of Research Safety – “Mercury – Overview Hazard
