Concept in Definition ABC

Mercury is a god in Roman mythology, but it is also a planet of the Solar system and a chemical element of the periodic table.

In Roman mythology the god Mercury corresponds to the god Hermes of Greek mythology

For the Romans, Mercury was the god of travelers, thieves and merchants. The name of this god corresponds to a divinity that comes from Greek mythology, specifically Hermes (Hermes is the son of the nymph Maya and the god Zeus). The image that one has of Mercury or Hermes is that of a funny, shrewd, cunning and intelligent god.

In the solar system

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and is the closest to the Sun. Having no atmosphere, its variations of temperature they are very high. Mercury's core is liquid and this is due to the high sulfur content.

It is a planet that can be seen with the naked eye from Earth. Regarding your movement, it takes 59 Earth days to make a rotation on itself and the complete translation around the Sun does it in 88 Earth days.

A chemical element with a lot of history

It is a unique element, as it remains liquid at room temperature. It can penetrate the substance of all metals and can even dissolve some. This metal was already known in prehistory, as it is known that it was used to make pigments with which they were painted figures on the rocks of the caves.

In ancient times the Greeks called it liquid silver. Physicians in classical Greece used this metal to cure eye problems or to treat burns. However, they realized that it could also be a dangerous poison for humans and animals as well as for plants. The Romans used it to adorn decorative elements.

Already in the Middle Ages, this liquid metal was used by alchemists in their attempt to transform metals into gold. In India it was believed that mercury had aphrodisiac properties and in China it was used in the elaboration of elixirs to extend life. Some historians believe that Mozart could be accidentally poisoned with mercury when doctors tried to cure the venereal disease that he suffered.

From a strictly chemical point of view, it is a transition metal, its symbol is Hg, its atomic number is 80, its atomic mass is 200.59 and its electronegativity is 2.00.

Photos: Fotolia - heritage / tmass