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Mercury is a heavy, silver-white, highly toxic metallic
element.
It is used in
- barometers
- thermometers
- pesticides
- pharmaceutical preparations
- reflecting surfaces of mirrors
- dental fillings
- fluorescent lights
- batteries
Mercury's History
Date of Discovery-Known to the ancients
Discoverer-Unknown
Obtained from-Cinnabar ore (HgS)
Finding large pools of mercury is almost impossible, and finding it in its native state is also fairly
rare. The element is usually found in the ore cinnabar (HgS) where it must go through a heating and condensing process to
be obtained. Mercury may also occasionally be found with silver.
(Paraphrased from a paragraph at the website
By Jonathan Lashier)
Mercury Thermometer
<http://www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/measuring_techniques/page_07.htm>
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