![]() ![]() A saturated atmosphere at 20 ☌ contains 14 mg/m 3 ( Simon et al., 1990). At 20 ☌, the vapour pressure of the metal is 0.17 Pa (0.0013 mm Hg). In its elemental form, mercury is a dense, silvery-white, shiny metal, which is liquid at room temperature and boils at 357 ☌. Organomercury compounds are those in which mercury is attached covalently to at least one carbon atom ( Aylett, 1973 Simon et al., 1990 WHO, 1990, 1991). The mercurous and mercuric states form numerous inorganic and organic chemical compounds. Inorganic mercury exists in three oxidation states: 0 (metallic), + 1 (mercurous) and + 2 (mercuric) mercurous ions usually occur as dimers (Hg 2+). As early as 1556 AD, five different methods for extracting mercury from its ores were reported ( Simon et al., 1990). ![]() Mercury was mentioned about 200 BC in India as well as in China (Han dynasty). The discovery in 1938 of 1 kg of the metal in 2500-year-old sand layers on the eastern coast of Greece indicates that mercury was used in the extraction of gold at an early date. Mercury (also called quicksilver because of its liquid state at room temperature) was known as early as 1000 BC. Chemical and physical properties of mercury and mercury compounds. ![]()
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