Mercury, historically known as quicksilver, is a unique element, whose long history and characteristics are some to be marveled at. A silvery white transition metal, mercury has a high luster, giving it a mirror-like appearance. It is the only metal that remains liquid at room temperature, yet it is not wet. This is because of its inability to be absorbed by other substances; instead, when spilled, it forms small, spherical beads. These beads are highly mobile and tremble at the slightest touch. Mercury is also extremely dense. In fact, it is the densest liquid element, so dense that a block of lead is able to float on it.
Because it has been recognized since before 2000 B.C., the identity of the mercury’s discoverer remains a mystery. Evidence confirms that it had been used by ancient chemists throughout China, Greece, Rome, Egypt, and India. Traces of the element have even been discovered in Egyptian tombs. Although it had been in use for thousands of years, it wasn’t until the late 18th century that it was recognized as an element.
Mercury has many names, which all relate to its one-of-a-kind properties. In ancient times, it was dubbed ‘quicksilver,’ due to its color and mobility. Later, Aristotle referred to it as ‘hydro-argyros,” meaning “liquid silver,” which was
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With an abundance of about 85 parts per billion by weight, it is about as abundant as silver. It is seldom found in its free state but can be extracted from ores, such as corderoite, livingstonite, and cinnabar. Cinnabar (mercuric sulfide) is the main ore containing mercury and is normally located in volcanic regions and near hot springs. Mercury is obtained by heating the cinnabar and condensing the vapors that lift from the combination. Alchemists began successfully separating mercury from its ore and developing amalgams with it as early as the time of Christ. Now, half of the world’s production of the metal occurs in Spain and
Although some of the elements have been known for thousands of years, our understanding of many elements is still young. Mendeleev’s first Periodic Table contained only 63 elements, and about that many were discovered in the following 100 years. Just like countries, emperors, philosophers, and cities, elements have histories, too.“The Disappearing spoon” by Sam Kean, is a detailed history of the elements on the Periodic Table. Kean does a important job of telling every single element’s journey throughout the history of mankind: from the earliest times, when chemistry was intermingled with alchemy, to these days of modern chemistry. For example: Thallium is considered the deadliest element, pretending to be potassium to gain entry into our cells where it then breaks amino acid bonds within proteins. The CIA once developed a plan to poison Fidel Castro by dosing his socks with thallium-tainted
Spain was one of the major producers of silver. It controlled the mines in Latin America where silver was produced, and traded it around the world but especially to China. The Chinese economy required silver, and they traded many commodities in return for it .From the abundance of silver, and subsequent trade, Spain grew massively wealthy and powerful. The glut of silver into Spain’s economy allowed the arts and sciences to develop, but also led to high inflation. The Spanish also spent tremendous amounts of silver to fund many
The economy of Spanish America was strengthened by the export of goods to European markets. However, this was not the only source of wealth to the Spanish Empire. In 1545, in Peru, the mines of Potosi were discovered, containing an immense wealth of silver (Gale 2). A cheap labor system, known as the encomienda, helped to retain these profits. During the initiation of the silver trade, Spain had a favorable trade balance, due to the exchange of silver for manufactured goods. Over time, this had become lesser profitable, resulting in insignificant monetary gains.
Silver has been used since prehistoric times and it has and still plays an important role today. We do not know which person discovered it, but what we do know is that the Ancients discovered it. Silver has a special place in the history of the elements because it is one of the first five metals used and discovered by humans. The other four elements that were used and discovered by humans were gold, copper, lead, and iron. Silver objects from before
I am going to discuss about the element known as gold in my assignment. To describe the element gold in simple terms, I can only say that it is an element (chemical element). This element is denoted by the symbol Au. It has an atomic number of seventy nine (79). I will describe quite a number of things concerning gold as an element. To begin with is:
Spain at this point had lost so much power that they were also losing land in the Americas. Most of the silver mines went to the Europeans, but at least one third of the mines went to China, either directly transported by Spanish galleons of indirectly by the purchase of Chinese goods. “A significant hunk of the GDP of China- then the world’s biggest economy- was surrendered in order secure a white metal that was produced in the Spanish America and Japan… Think what else those resources could have been used for.” -Dennis Flynn. The Spanish empire’s silver trade was the first truly global market and its consequences were dire, even if it did make some people. Both Spain and China experienced inflation that made their governments weaker for a while. The environment suffered and the search for all of the precious metals led the Spanish to find and eventually destroy two of the world’s great empires, the Aztecs and Inca. And many thousands were killed mining silver and the mercury used to refine it. Through all of this it leads Spain in a great struggle to rebuild, one future leaders would have to figure
No other metal better illustrates the diversity of effects caused by different chemical species than does mercury. On the basis of chemical speciation, there are three forms of mercury: elemental, inorganic, and organic compounds.
Mercury’s surface temperatures range from -180*C to 450*C (-290*F to 840*F). Temperatures that hot can melt iron, and other metals. The dramatic temperature difference on Mercury are not only because it is so close to the sun but, also by Mercury’s surface features. The places that are the coldest on Mercury and at the bottom of the craters and basins. The hottest are the places closest to the sun.
The mineral wealth of Spain is considerable. In 1990 annual production included about 36 million metric tons of coal and lignite, 1.5 million tons of iron ore, 255,000 tons of zinc concentrates, 58,400 tons of lead, 5 million tons of gypsum, and 795,000 tons of crude petroleum. The principal coal mines are in the northwest, near Oviedo; the chief iron-ore deposits are in the same area, around Santander and Bilbao; large mercury reserves are located in Almadén, in southwestern Spain, and copper and lead are mined in Andalusia. Other minerals produced are potash, manganese, fluorite, tin, tungsten, wolfram, bismuth, antimony, cobalt, and rock salt.
relied on the influx of gold and silver from the New World. Spain was the first
The writings of some Greek philosophers may be considered to be among the very first chemical theories, such as the theory that all things are composed of air, earth, fire, and water. Each of these were represented by different elements, such as sulfur, salt, mercury, and, ideally, gold. Other ideas held by alchemists were that each of the known elements were represented by heavenly bodies. Gold was earth's representation of the sun, silver for the moon, mercury for the planet Mercury, copper for Venus, iron for Mars, tin for Jupiter, and lead for Saturn.
When the liquid level in both arms is the same, the pressure of the sample of gas inside the closed end must equal the pressure of the external atmosphere since the downward force on the two columns of liquid is then equal. When the liquid levels are unequal, the pressures must differ. The difference in pressure can be measured in units of length of the vertical column of liquid. The mm Hg, or its modern version the torr, originated in this use of the manometer. Mercury is particularly convenient for use in manometers (and barometers) because at room temperature it has low vapor pressure, does not wet glass, and has a high density. Other liquids such as linseed oil or water have also been used in manometers.
There are eight planets in our solar system. The first planet closest to the sun is Mercury. Therefore, Mercury is the hottest planet. Mercury’s surface is cold. However, in the daytime Mercury can get as hot as 840 degrees fahrenheit, which is 450 degrees celsius. During night time the temperature can decrease to 275 degrees fahrenheit, or -170 degrees celsius. Mercury is the smallest planet. Mercury is the quickest planet to move around the sun. Its speed is approximately 112,000 mph along its elliptical orbit. Mercury can move around the sun in 88 days. There are craters in mercury, and scientist believe ice is in the craters.