Mercury Element Uses

Mercury, or quicksilver as it was called several hundred years ago, derived its name from the Roman god Mercury, and has been a metal that has intrigued men since a long time. The name 'quicksilver' was given to it by people of past civilizations as it formed beads of small parts that showed movement, when dropped on a surface. I remember my high school chemistry class in which my teacher showed us how its drops break and form small distinct parts. I was fascinated by that sight and so will anyone be, who sees it for the first time, as it is the only metal that exists in liquid form naturally. This silvery white metal has the atomic number 80 and is represented the chemical symbol 'Hg'.

Uses
As more research has been done on this metal, its several uses have been discovered. It acts as an amalgam, that is the property of dissolving various metals when they are dipped in a mercury solution. It has been found that it has the unique ability of dissolving all metals. The amalgam process leads to the manufacturing of certain mixed metals whose electrical resistivity is often less than that of even the pure metals or of the alloys. This means better electrical conductivity can be achieved by the process of amalgamation of metals. In zinc batteries, mercury is used to prevent the zinc metals from corroding. Amalgamation has been one of the oldest methods of refining silver or gold from the mines. The metals were dissolved in compounds of mercury and after some distillation, the precious metals were recovered. The Castner-Kellner process, that produces chlorine and sodium hydroxide, requires mercury in the entire process, as mercury is chemically inert, can form amalgams, is conductive and has great fluidity.

It is widely used in the construction of barometers and the thermometers. The barometer was invented by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643, and the thermometer by Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1714. The most peculiar characteristics about these measuring instruments were that both used mercury as the liquid because of its less linear expansivity. Another major laboratory mercury use was in the development of diffusion pumps.

Some other uses of mercury element have been in the making of glass mirrors and temperature regulated pendulum clocks. Many of its compounds have been used as medicines since many ages. However, in recent years, as awareness about its toxicity has increased amongst people, most of the medicines have become obsolete. Mercurochrome (used in cuts and wounds) and Thimerosal (as a dental amalgamation) are the compounds that are not used in many countries. Mascara, an ingredient of cosmetics, contains some amounts of thimerosal. Many states in the US are now very strict against the use of this metal in cosmetics and medicines. It is used in the form of gaseous vapors in vapor lamps, neon signs and fluorescent lamps. Mercury sphygmomanometers (blood pressure meter) and various other laboratory equipment also use mercury. Due to the high molecular weight, low ionization energy and high liquid density it was used as propellant for electric propulsion systems. Recently atomic clocks containing this metal have been presented in various international scientific presentations.

Even in thermometers and barometers the use of mercury is being discouraged. As the government has become strict in handling cases of mercury poisoning, manufacturers are trying their best to use mercury in such a fashion that does not cause any threat to the people and general life.