Some Facts About Mercury

Word Origin: The name of this element was derived from the Greek word hydrargyros, which literally means “water-silver”. It is then translated into Latin, hydrargyrum, which means “quicksilver or liquid-silver”. It earned its namesake from its physical form and color.

History: The use of this element dates back to 1500 BC. Some of its traces are found in both Egypt and China. The Egyptians used cinnabar (the common ore of mercury) as pigments to paint their walls to help drive away evil spirits.

The Chinese, on the other hand, mixed the substance with water, creating an elixir that is believed to help in prolonging life. This practice led to different complications, all resulting in untimely death. This is also what made them come up with the conclusion that this matter is highly poisonous.

The Greeks also had their own contribution to the history of this element. They initially believed that this substance had “mystical” properties that can help turn base metal into gold. This belief didn’t last long because every experiment they tried ended up in failure. This led them to take a look at its uses from a different angle.

They already learned from the Chinese that direct (oral) intake can be fatal so they tried a different method. They started mixing it with other substances and found out that it could be used for external applications in moderation. This new discovery made them believe that this substance could be used for medicinal purposes, resulting in its more modern uses.

Exposure & Expectations: Like other elements, Mercury (Hg) also has its share of adverse effects. Here are some examples of what to expect in case of short-term or long-term exposure.

Short term exposure:

• Pulmonary Diseases – Too much exposure to fumes can cause lung problems. It causes it to swell and can lead to coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath and chest pains.

• Hypertension – Breathing in fumes or vapors can cause your blood pressure to spike up. It increases your heart rate, resulting to palpitation.

• Skin irritation – Direct contact with its liquid form can cause irritation. The telltale signs are rashes and dermatitis.

• Eye irritation – Being exposed to smoke can cause your eyes to swell. If not treated correctly, it can lead to vision impairment.

Long term exposure:

• Damage to your Gastrointestinal Tract, Nervous System and Kidneys – High dosage of this substance, may it be ingestion or inhalation, can develop into different types of diseases. These are the primary organs that are more prone to infection.

Symptoms: Muscle weakness, stomach pains and a disturbance to your urinary system.

• Chronic Poisoning – This can happen with regular absorption of small amounts of this element. This condition is common among workers in mines, laboratories, industries that often use this substance.

There are many symptoms associated with this illness, here are some samples:

Treatments:  There are limited treatment options available for this type of poisoning. The most common is called Chelation Therapy. This is the process purging this substance out of your body. 

How to detect poisoning?
Mercurial poisoning can easily be detected by undergoing laboratory tests.  Your doctor can order the right procedure for you if you suspect that you have symptoms of poisoning.  High toxicity levels as proven by lab results will help the doctors provide the proper treatment. 

Technical: It is one of the transitional metal elements that is listed under the Periodic Table (Group 12). It goes by under the symbol Hg and has an atomic number of 80. It has a silver-white hue and is normally in liquid form. It is one of the first metal elements identified and has been widely used throughout history. It is considered to be an unreactive metal and is highly poisonous. It can be found mostly in sedimentary rocks and makes up 0.5 parts of the earth’s crust.

Name: Mercury
Symbol: Hg
Atomic Number: 80
Atomic Mass: 200.592 (3)
Melting Point: 234.3210 K (−38.8290 °C, −37.8922 °F)
Boiling Point: 629.88 K (356.73 °C, 674.11 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 80
Number of Neutrons: 121
Classification: Transitional Metal

Some of its Uses:
Glass Thermometers­ – This is the most popular usage of this element. They use it in its natural form, liquid. It is highly suitable for this device because of its high density and its capability to function in tiny spaces. It also does not cause moisture on the glass and can retain its unified form even though it’s being pumped with air pressure. However, this is no longer being practiced due to the substance’s poisonous property.
Electrical Switches – This is mainly used in thermostats and some doze-alarm type clocks. It is placed inside a small tube that completes a circuit to trigger power. 
Fluorescent or Vapor Lamps – This element can be used as a natural source of ultra-violet rays and visible lights. This has also been discontinued due to its poisonous property.
Amalgam Fillings (Dentistry) – This substance comes in liquid form. In amalgams, it is used as a dissolving agent for some metals. Dentists use this element as part of mixtures to fill dental cavities.  This practice has likewlise been discontinued not only because of the poisonous property of the element but also because some studies indicate that it may cause different types of diseases. Some of the more notable ones are said to be cancer and autism in children.
Cosmetics – This substance can be found mainly in whitening products. They use it as an active ingredient that helps in speeding up the whitening process. Most Asian countries still use this application but it is now banned in the United States.
Medicine – In the earlier times, it was used mainly in making anti-fungal ointments. In the modern times, it is only used as cathartics and diuretics, which is strictly regulated.
Assassination­ – Like arsenic, this element is highly poisonous. Its liquid form can evaporate if left at room temperature. The vapor emitted does not have any odor and is toxic. This characteristic makes it the perfect murder tool.

[The information contained in this article is believed to be reliable. I have taken every precaution to verify its accuracy; I am not a medical professional and make no warranties, representations or guarantees of any kind as to its accuracy. Medical knowledge is in a constant state of change, and what I have written here may be out of date by the time you read it. The information that I have provided here is for informational purposes only and not for use in diagnosing any condition that you may or may not have. Always consult with you doctor before treating yourself.]