80 Hg Mercury 200.5923

Mercury

TRANSITION METAL
Bohr Model: Electrons arranged in energy shells around the nucleus.

Mercury 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.

Quick Facts

Atomic Number 80
Period 6
Group 12
Phase Liquid
Appearance silvery
About Transition Metals

Transition metals are elements with partially filled d-orbitals. They are hard, have high melting points, and often form colored compounds.

History

Discovered By unknown, before 2000 BCE
Named By Unknown

Physical Properties

Atomic Mass 200.5923
Density 13.534 g/L
Molar Heat 27.983 J/(mol·K)
Phase Transition (Melting & Boiling Points)

Mercury melts at 234.321 K and boils at 629.88 K.

Atomic Properties

Electron Config [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
Electronegativity 2
Electron Affinity -48 kJ/mol
Ionization Energy 1007.1 kJ/mol
Orbital Filling Diagram
This diagram visualizes electron configuration according to the Aufbau principle and Hund's rule. Boxes represent orbitals (s, p, d, f), while arrows indicate electrons with spin up or down. Electrons fill lower energy levels first and occupy orbitals singly before pairing.

Photograph

Image of Mercury Source: Wikipedia

External Resources

Study Guide

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus, which defines the element.

Atomic Mass

The average mass of an atom, including protons and neutrons.

Electronegativity

A measure of how strongly an atom attracts electrons in a bond.

Ionization Energy

The energy required to remove an electron from an atom.

Electron Config

The arrangement of electrons in the atom's energy shells.