HG Full Form

Hg full form is Hydragyrum. It is the symbol used to represent Mercury. Mercury is known as a chemical element represented by the symbol Hg and with atomic number 80. Earlier it was named as quicksilver and later was renamed as hydragyrum.

What is the Full Form of Hg?

As mentioned above the full form Hg is Hydrargyrum. The Hg is a symbol that is used to represent the element known as Mercury. The mercury’s atomic number is 80 and is also called Quicksilver. The Hg or mercury is a substance that is liquid at room temperature. The term hydragyrum originated from the Greek word Hydro which means water and the word argyros meaning silver. The mercury looks like silver, a white liquid metal. Mercury exists in many forms, such as cinnabar, also known as mercury sulfide. The other is Vermilion which is red pigment and is acquired by grinding cinnabar.

About Mercury

Mercury is a chemical element and is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. It is a heavy, silvery-white liquid metal. Mercury is a transition metal. Mercury is used in many equipment that are used in the field of medicine such as barometers, thermometers, etc. The main compounds of mercury are mercuric chloride, mercury fulminate, and mercury sulfide. About 3500 years ago traces of mercury were found in Egyptian tombs. Mercury can be also found in the environment.

Properties of Mercury

Below are the different properties of mercury:

Physical properties of mercury:

Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. It is also a very dense metal and has a high surface tension. This makes it very good at wetting surfaces, and it can form amalgams with other metals. Mercury is also a good conductor of electricity and heat.

The melting and boiling point of mercury is -38.85 degree Celsius and 356.6 degree Celsius respectively. A density of 13.59g/cm3 and is silvery white in color. Mercury has high surface tension and is considered a good conductor of electricity.

Chemical properties of mercury:

Mercury is known as a chemical element with the symbol Hg and its atomic number is 80. It is a silvery-white, heavy, dense, and non-ferromagnetic liquid metal at room temperature. Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at standard temperature and pressure.

Mercury is a relatively reactive metal. It can react with oxygen to form mercury oxide (HgO), which is a white powder. Mercury can also react with other metals to form amalgams.

Applications of Mercury

Mercury is used mainly in medical equipment. Below mentioned are some applications where mercury is used.

1. Thermometers: Mercury is mainly used in thermometers. The mercury thermometer works by causing the mercury to expand and contract depending on temperature. Mercury thermometers are accurate and reliable, but they are also fragile in nature and break easily. 
2. Barometer: A barometer is an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure. The working principle of the mercury barometer is to measure the weight of mercury in the column with the pressure of the air. Mercury barometers are accurate & reliable but are large and heavy in nature. 
3. Manometer: A manometer is an instrument that measures the pressure of a gas or liquid. A mercury manometer works by measuring the pressure of a gas or liquid with the weight of mercury in a column. Mercury manometers are accurate and reliable, but are also fragile which means they can be broken easily.
4. Fluorescent Lamps: Fluorescent lamps are used to produce light. They work by sending electricity through a gas containing mercury vapor. Mercury vapor emits ultraviolet light, which is then converted into visible light by the fluorescent coating in the lamp.
5. Electrical switches: Mercury switches are used to open and close electrical circuits. They work by using gravity to move a small amount of mercury between two contacts. When the mercury touches both, the circuit is closed. The circuit is broken when the mercury breaks contact with the two contacts.
6. Dental Amalgam: Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, and copper used to fill cavities in teeth. Dental amalgam is a safe and effective way to fill cavities, but it releases small amounts of mercury into the body.

About Mercury Poisoning

Mercury poisoning is a type of metal poisoning caused by exposure to mercury. The poisoning is caused by eating seafood such as sharks, marlin, etc., and by wearing some kind of jewelry that consists of mercury substances. The most common cause of mercury poisoning is excessive consumption of methyl mercury or organic mercury associated with eating seafood. There are three forms of mercury that are poisonous to human health. The first form is Elemental mercury which will be found in thermometers made up of glass, electrical switches, and light bulbs made from fluorescent. The second form is Inorganic mercury which is found in batteries, some types of disinfectants, and in science labs especially in chemistry labs. The last third form is organic mercury which is found in coal fumes and antiseptics that were used earlier to kill germs.

Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning

Some of the symptoms of mercury posing are listed below

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Chance of memory loss or other problems related  to memory
• Hands and feet well numb
• Muscle weakness 
• Trouble in speaking and listening 

Regulations on Mercury 

Due to the poisonous nature of mercury, its use in many products has been discontinued. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the use of mercury in thermometers, gauges, and other devices. The EPA has also placed limits on mercury released into the environment from power plants and other sources.

Some Important Facts about Mercury 

• Mercury's atomic number is 80. The number shows the number of protons existing in the nucleus.
• The mercury’s atomic weight is 200.59 grams
• The density of mercury is 13.5336 grams per cubic centimeter.
• The number of stable isotopes present in mercury is 7

Written By:

Deepit Mathur