Hg
Mercury
Element 80 · Transition metal
Mercury (Hg)
Mercury is a dense, silvery metal and the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. Its vapour and compounds are toxic.
- Transition metal
- Period 6
- Group 12
- d-block
- liquid at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 200.59
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
- Melting point
- -38.8 °C
- 234.32 K
- Boiling point
- 356.7 °C
- 629.88 K
- Density
- 13.5336 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 2
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 209 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 10.438 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about mercury
- 01
The phrase “mad as a hatter” is linked to mercury poisoning among felt-hat makers.
- 02
Mercury was found in ancient Egyptian tombs dating to about 1500 BCE.
- 03
The Minamata Convention (2013) is phasing out mercury in products worldwide.
Applications
What is mercury used for?
- Fluorescent lamps
- Chlor-alkali industry (declining)
- Dental amalgam (declining)
- Scientific instruments
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Known since antiquity
Year
c. 1500 BCE
Where
Known since antiquity
Name origin
From the planet Mercury; the symbol Hg comes from Greek hydrargyros, “water-silver”.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 80
- Atomic mass
- 200.59 u
- Group
- 12
- Period
- 6
- Block
- d-block
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2
- Electron affinity
- —
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 209 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 7
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+2, +1).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st1,007.1
- 2nd1,810
- 3rd3,300
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Liquid
- Melting point
- 234.32 K · -38.8 °C · -37.9 °F
- Boiling point
- 629.88 K · 356.7 °C · 674.1 °F
- Density
- 13.5336 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 27.983 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- Silvery
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Mercury questions
What is Hg on the periodic table?
Hg is the symbol for mercury, element 80 on the periodic table. It sits in group 12, period 6, in the transition metal category, and has an atomic mass of 200.59.
What is the atomic number of mercury?
Mercury has atomic number 80, so every mercury atom has 80 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Hg and its atomic mass is 200.59.
Who discovered mercury?
Mercury has been known since antiquity (c. 1500 BCE); no single discoverer is credited. The name comes from from the planet Mercury; the symbol Hg comes from Greek hydrargyros, “water-silver”.
What is mercury used for?
Mercury is used for: fluorescent lamps; chlor-alkali industry (declining); dental amalgam (declining); scientific instruments.
Is mercury a metal?
Yes. Mercury is a transition metal, one of the metallic elements.
What is the electron configuration of mercury?
The electron configuration of mercury is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2. Its 80 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2.