Atomic Properties
- Atomic Number
- 80
- Atomic Mass
- 200.5900 u
- Electron Configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
- Electronegativity
- 2.00
- Block
- d-block
- Group
- 12
- Period
- 6
Physical Properties
- Phase (STP)
- liquid
- Melting Point
- 234.32 K
- Boiling Point
- 629.88 K
- Density
- 13.5340 g/cm³
About Mercury
Only metal liquid at room temperature; toxic; used in thermometers.
Why "Hg" for Mercury?
Hg←Hydrargyrum(Latin)
The symbol Hg comes from "Hydrargyrum," Latin for "liquid silver" (from Greek "hydor" = water + "argyros" = silver). The English name "Mercury" refers to the Roman god known for speed, reflecting the liquid metal's mobility.
Isotopes of Mercury
Mercury has 7 naturally occurring isotopes.
| Isotope | Mass Number | Atomic Mass (u) | Abundance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 196Hg | 196 | 195.9658326 | 0.1500% | Stable |
| 198Hg | 198 | 197.9667686 | 9.970% | Stable |
| 199Hg | 199 | 198.9682806 | 16.87% | Stable |
| 200Hg | 200 | 199.9683266 | 23.10% | Stable |
| 201Hg | 201 | 200.9703028 | 13.18% | Stable |
| 202Hg | 202 | 201.9706434 | 29.86% | Stable |
| 204Hg | 204 | 203.973494 | 6.870% | Stable |
Data source: NIH PubChem (aggregated from IUPAC, NIST)