Mercury specific weight: weight of 1 liter and 1 m³

Mercury, the dangerous and mysterious substance in a thermometer, is well known to everyone since childhood. In physics lessons, the teacher’s question “in what liquid does an axe not sink?” confused many. It turned out to be much simpler: at room temperature mercury is liquid, and its density is so high that heavy and solid metals such as lead, iron, copper and others easily float in it. The specific weight of mercury at 20 ºC is 13.546 kg/m3, and as temperature rises it becomes lower, meaning its density decreases by approximately 1% for every 50 degrees.

Mercury received its name Hydrargyrum because of its silvery fluidity, from the words for water and silver; the Russian name comes from a Proto-Slavic word meaning “to roll”.

When the temperature drops to -39 ºC, mercury changes its aggregate state and becomes a solid substance with clearly expressed metallic properties. The belonging of Hg to metals was first proven by Lomonosov and Braun in 1759, although the substance had been known to humanity for a very long time. The ancient Greeks skillfully used mercury and knew about its poisonous effect. Alchemists used mercury in experiments for a long time, hoping to create gold.

Where it occurs

Mercury is not widespread in nature. Its content in the earth’s crust is no more than 83 mg/t; however, the concentration of mercury ores is quite high because this element binds rather easily with other substances. The richest ores contain up to 2.5% mercury; this is natural cinnabar, a mineral with bright red spots that gradually become covered with light tarnish on a fracture due to oxidation processes. Very rarely, native mercury occurs as droplets on rocks.

Effect on the human body

Mercury is considered a poisonous substance, and this is true, but its toxic effect is not immediately noticeable and does not cause instant death.

With prolonged contact of the skin with mercury, burns and reddening of the epidermis may appear. But surface exposure is not as dangerous; mercury is even used in soap making. Detergents with mercury can cause allergic reactions and dry skin. The danger of the liquid metal lies in its vapors. Even at room temperature, mercury evaporates quickly, and its vapors are toxic. When entering the blood through the respiratory tract, strongly irritating mucous membranes and causing breathing difficulty, mercury causes toxic poisoning accompanied by headaches, irritability and aggression, trembling hands, constant insomnia and other complications.