Uses of Mercury(Hg)

Uses of Mercury(Hg)

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  Mercury (Hg) By Student Mohamed El-desoki Chemistry & Zoology department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University. Instructor Dr. Nagwa Nwar 1
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  Mercury (Hg) Dueto concerns about the element's toxicity levels, the use of mercury is slowly being phased out. However, being the only metal that possesses the property of maintaining a liquid state at room temperature, it is not surprising that mercury has found a number of special applications throughout past decades. Mercury, sometimes called quicksilver, is a silver-colored metal that is a liquid at room temperature. Useful properties of mercury include its ability to expand when heated, contract when cooled, remain a liquid at any temperature and conduct electric current. However, mercury vapor can cause damage to the nervous system if inhaled. Although the use of mercury declined with the awareness of the dangers it poses, it is still used for many purposes, which was the reason for choosing this element to my research. 2 Uses of Mercury: In the past it has been used for gold and silver mining, light switches, batteries, in barometers and other scientific equipment,
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  preserving wood formaking hats and in many other industries. Because of its high density, it is used in barometers and manometers. Because it has a high rate of thermal expansion that is fairly constant over a wide temperature range, it is used extensively in thermometers. Mercury is important as a liquid contact material for electric switches. It is used in mercury-vapor lamps, which emit light rich in ultraviolet radiation; various kinds of such lamps are used for street lighting, as sun lamps, and in "black lights" (see lighting). Mercury is used as an electrode in the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide. It is also used in certain electric batteries. With some other metals mercury forms a special type of alloy called an amalgam; a special amalgam (mostly mercury, silver, and tin) is used in dentistry for filling teeth.And is also used in mining to separate gold from sand. Mercury compounds have many uses. Calomel (mercurous chloride, Hg2Cl2) is used as a standard in electrochemical measurements and in medicine as a purgative. Mercuric chloride (corrosive sublimate, HgCl2) is used as an insecticide, in rat poison, and as a disinfectant. Mercuric oxide is used in skin ointments. Mercuric sulfate is used as a catalyst in organic chemistry. Vermilion, a red pigment, is mercuric sulfide; another crystalline form of the sulfide (also 3
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  used as apigment) is black. Mercury fulminate, Hg(CNO)2, is used as a detonator. Mercury forms many organic compounds. Mercurochrome (in 2% aqueous solution) is used in medicine as a topical antiseptic. Mercury compounds were formerly used in the treatment of syphilis. Also Uses in Pesticides and biocides were commonly used for the treatment and control purpose and it can be of organic and inorganic mercurial compounds. It can be use as an additive in coating, in hospitals for dressing mean, even for fabrication and laundry use. 4 Red mercury: Has yet to prove a substance called "red mercury" because of the different interpretations and speculation on them, but no reason to doubt that the answer for the fact that there are "red mercury" are present in the secret files too have not been disclosed and may affect the national security of countries such as Russia and the United States of America Although the intake of the media to that topic but it does raise speculation. But some say it already exists,prepared from elemental mercury, antimony interaction according to a particular method yields a red color liquid chemical formula (Hg2Sb2O7) scientific name (Mercuric Pyro-Antimonate) Beroantimonat mercury, and his name is common and widespread among the people is the Red Mercury, So we can say that it is used in the atomic bomb and
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  uranium enrichment. Butrecently the World Health Organization welcomes the establishment of an international treaty on mercury. Mercury in Use Today: New or “virgin” mercury used in products originates from mines, mostly in Spain. The mercury is processed, like other metals, and sold to manufacturers to be put into many types of consumer products. However, much of the mercury used in North America today comes from recycled sources, as programs to recover mercury increase, thus reducing demand for virgin mercury. Controlling the deliberate use or release of mercury can be difficult because mercury tends to be used in very small quantities but is dispersed across many different kinds of products. In many cases the mercury is concealed inside products or is an additive. People using products with mercury are generally unaware of the fact that there is mercury in the product, making control of mercury releases .at disposal very difficult Mercury is still put into many consumer products manufactured in all parts of the world. Even though mercury is often thought of as a substance used in “old” technology, mercury applications can be found in notebook computers, modern telephones, new lighting technologies and anti-lock brakes in cars .manufactured in 2002 5
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  Ancient uses ofmercury continue in countries where the mystical properties of mercury are valued. In Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, for example, amulets containing liquid mercury are still widely available. Worn around the neck, they are thought to protect the wearer from ill-health. In some cultures, liquid mercury is sprinkled in homes, or even around children’s cribs, with the idea that this will help ward off evil spirits. The lack of awareness of the potential harm, combined with the cultural and historic factors involved, makes this a challenging use to address. Mercury is still used in products for several reasons. First, mercury is a very cheap substance given the many commercially valuable services it provides. Second, the occurrence of acute mercury poisoning has declined following better industrial practices and the new medical evidence on the risks of low-level exposure is not well-known. Finally, many companies that use mercury are unwilling to change their practices if it means having to spend money to modify their product, unless they are ordered to do so by government regulations. 6 Done. Mohamed Eldesoki Director Dr. Nagwa Nwar