Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Mercury (Hg, atomic number 80).**
Mercury is a **transition metal** that occurs primarily in **cinnabar (HgS)**. Industrial extraction involves **thermal decomposition and condensation** to produce metallic mercury.
Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Mercury**:
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# **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Mercury**
### **A. Extraction from Cinnabar Ores**
1. **Mining of Cinnabar (HgS) Deposits** – Primary source of mercury.
2. **Crushing and Grinding of Ore** – Prepares material for roasting.
3. **Gravity Concentration** – Enriches HgS particles in ore.
4. **Roasting in Furnaces (Air Oxidation)** – Converts HgS to Hg vapor and SO₂ gas.
5. **Direct Retorting of Crushed Ore** – Mercury is volatilized and collected.
6. **Steam or Hot Air Distillation** – Extracts mercury vapor from roasted ore.
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### **B. Recovery of Mercury**
7. **Condensation of Mercury Vapors in Water-Cooled Chambers** – Converts vapor to liquid mercury.
8. **Condensation in Copper or Iron Condensers** – Industrial method for large-scale recovery.
9. **Vacuum Distillation of Mercury** – Produces high-purity mercury.
10. **Filtration to Remove Particulate Impurities** – Improves mercury purity.
11. **Settling of Mercury in Retorts** – Allows separation from remaining solid residues.
12. **Recovery from Tailings via Amalgamation** – Mercury amalgamates with gold or silver traces.
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### **C. Conversion to Mercury Compounds (Optional Intermediates)**
13. **Oxidation to Mercuric Oxide (HgO)** – For laboratory or industrial uses.
14. **Reaction with Sulfur to Reform HgS** – Used in chemical production or purification.
15. **Formation of Mercuric Chloride (HgCl₂)** – Intermediate for chemical and industrial applications.
16. **Formation of Mercurous Compounds (Hg₂Cl₂, Hg₂(NO₃)₂)** – Laboratory preparation.
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### **D. Recovery and Secondary Sources**
17. **Recovery from Industrial Slags** – Chemical or thermal extraction.
18. **Recovery from Mercury-Containing Devices (Thermometers, Switches)** – Distillation or chemical extraction.
19. **Recovery from Gold Mining Tailings (Artisanal Mining)** – Mercury is separated from amalgams.
20. **Recovery from Mercury-Containing Industrial Waste** – Chemical leaching and condensation.
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✅ **Summary:**
* **Main industrial sources:** Cinnabar (HgS) deposits.
* **Primary extraction steps:** Ore crushing → roasting/retorting → mercury vapor condensation → purification.
* **Metallic mercury:** Produced via thermal decomposition and condensation of HgS.
* **Byproduct/secondary sources:** Gold mining tailings, industrial devices, industrial waste, slags.
* **Laboratory/experimental:** Distillation, condensation, conversion to HgO or HgCl₂.
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Next in periodic order is \*\*Thallium (Tl, atomic number 81). Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Thallium**?
