Mercury
(information)
✅ Continuing with **Mercury (Hg)** — a silvery, liquid metal unique among the elements for being fluid at room temperature. Once essential in **scientific instruments, electrical switches, and gold extraction**, mercury’s industrial use has been sharply reduced due to its **toxicity and environmental impact**. Modern applications now focus on **controlled scientific, medical, and high-tech niches**. --- # 🌡️ Modern Mercury Uses by Industry (Option A Format) ### ⚗️ **1–5: Chemical & Industrial Processes (~35–40%)** 1. **Chlor-Alkali Production (Hg Cell Process)** – Used to produce chlorine and caustic soda (gradually being phased out). 2. **Mercury-Based Catalysts** – Vinyl chloride, acetaldehyde, and polyurethane synthesis (declining). 3. **Gold and Silver Extraction (Amalgamation)** – Still used in artisanal mining under poor regulation. 4. **Laboratory Calibration & Reference Standards** – Density and temperature reference measurements. 5. **Mercury Compounds in Chemical Synthesis** – For specialized reagents and analytical chemistry. --- ### 💡 **6–10: Electrical & Electronics (~25–30%)** 6. **Mercury Switches & Relays** – In tilt switches, thermostats, and high-reliability relays (legacy). 7. **Fluorescent & Neon Lamps** – Mercury vapor excites phosphors to produce visible light. 8. **Cold Cathode and UV Lamps** – For sterilization, water treatment, and forensic lighting. 9. **Electrical Contacts & Rectifiers** – Low-resistance conduction under heavy load. 10. **Microwave Devices & Sensors** – Used in precision pressure and motion sensing systems. --- ### 🧪 **11–14: Scientific, Analytical & Medical (~10–12%)** 11. **Laboratory Thermometers & Barometers** – Legacy precision instruments. 12. **Mercury Manometers & Vacuum Gauges** – Accurate pressure measurements in labs. 13. **Dental Amalgams (Hg–Ag–Sn–Cu Alloys)** – Once dominant filling material, now being replaced. 14. **Pharmaceutical & Biological Research (Historical)** – Mercuric chloride and thiomersal in vaccines and antiseptics (phased out in most countries). --- ### ☢️ **15–17: Energy, Lighting & Environmental (~5–8%)** 15. **High-Pressure Sodium & Metal Halide Lamps** – Mercury vapor improves luminous efficiency. 16. **UV Disinfection Lamps** – Used in water purification and air sterilization systems. 17. **Mercury Arc Rectifiers & Plasma Devices (Historical)** – Industrial power conversion and research. --- ### 🔬 **18–20: Specialty & Emerging (~3–5%)** 18. **Scientific Research on Liquid Metals** – Studying electrical conductivity and fluid dynamics. 19. **Mercury Alloys (Amalgams) in Precision Engineering** – Niche use for joining and calibration. 20. **Astrophysical and Sensor Applications (Experimental)** – Liquid-mirror telescopes and cooling systems. --- ### 📌 Sector Share Summary | Sector Group | % of Global Mercury Use | | ------------------------ | ----------------------- | | Chemical & Industrial | ~35–40% | | Electrical & Electronics | ~25–30% | | Scientific & Medical | ~10–12% | | Energy & Lighting | ~5–8% | | Specialty & Emerging | ~3–5% | --- ✅ **Next element:** **Thallium (Tl)** — a soft, highly toxic metal once used in **electronics, optics, and pesticides**, now limited to **semiconductors, superconductors, and infrared detectors**. Say **“continue”** to move on to **Thallium** in the same structured format.Known Methods of Extraction
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**: --- # **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. --- ### **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. --- ### **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. --- ### **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. --- ✅ **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. --- Next in periodic order is \*\*Thallium (Tl, atomic number 81). Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Thallium**?
