80Hg200.59
Mercury
Transition metal · element 80 · group 12, period 6
Quick facts
| Symbol | Hg |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 80 |
| Relative atomic mass | 200.59 |
| Category | Transition metal |
| Position | group 12, period 6 |
| State at 20 °C | Liquid |
| Melting point | -38.8 °C |
| Boiling point | 356.7 °C |
| Density | 13.534 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity | 2 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 |
About Mercury
Mercury has the symbol Hg and atomic number 80, which means every mercury atom has 80 protons in its nucleus and, in a neutral atom, 80 electrons. At room temperature it is a liquid.
Transition metals sit in the middle block of the periodic table. They are usually hard, dense and strong, often form coloured compounds, can have more than one ion charge, and many are useful catalysts.
It melts at -38.8 °C and boils at 356.7 °C.
Explore it
See where mercury sits, and drag the temperature slider to watch it melt and boil, on the interactive periodic table. Practise with quizzes on OmniEx.