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Understanding the element
Mercury (Hg) is chemical element 80. It belongs to the transition metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a liquid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.
Where do we encounter it?
In practice, it turns up most often in measurement, lamps and chemical synthesis.
measurementlampschemical synthesis
Standard atomic weight200.592(3)
What its position in the table tells us
Mercury sits in period 6, group 12 and the D block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.
Worth remembering
Mercury has a characteristic place in the periodic table that helps explain both its chemistry and its practical uses
Mercury has a characteristic place in the periodic table that helps explain both its chemistry and its practical uses