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Mercury (Hg)
Element with atomic number 80, category: Transition metal, a liquid at room temperature.
Element 80 of 118
Transition metal
Mercury
Group 12, Period 6
Common Uses
Old thermometers (toxic)
Electron Diagram
About Mercury
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80, meaning every atom has 80 protons in its nucleus. It is classed as Transition metal and is a liquid at room temperature. Its atomic mass is about 200.592 atomic mass units (u).
On the periodic table, Mercury sits in group 12, period 6, which determines how many electron shells it has and how it tends to react with other elements.
Uses of Mercury
In daily life and industry, Mercury is used for Old thermometers (toxic). These uses are closely tied to the typical properties of elements in the Transition metal category.
Electron Structure of Mercury
Using a simplified electron shell model (at most 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second, 18 in the third, and so on), Mercury has 5 electron shells, with an approximate arrangement of 2, 8, 18, 32, 20 electrons from the innermost shell to the outermost. This is a simplified learning model, not the full electron configuration that accounts for the s, p, d and f subshells.
Explore Other Elements
Want to see another element or try the element symbol quiz? Go back to the Interactive Periodic Table to explore all 118 chemical elements.