This article has been reviewed and approved by the following Topic Editor: Sidney Draggan (other articles)
BACKGROUND
Mercury, known since ancient times, is a heavy, silvery, metallic mineral. Its atomic number is 80. It is liquid at room temperature. Only two other elements (cesium and gallium) are liquid at room temperature.
Mercury becomes solid at -40° F (-40° C). It is dense and heavy, with a specific gravity of 13.6. For comparison, iron has a specific gravity of 7.5.