Basic Science: Elemental mercury (Hg), also known as quicksilver, is a unique metal because it is liquid at room temperature. “Mercury’s chemical symbol comes from the Greek word hydrargyrum, which means liquid silver”(Gagnon, 2010). Mercury is commonly found as the mineral cinnabar (HgS), but is rarely found in the elemental form naturally. Mercury tends to alloy easily with many metals called amalgams. Amalgams can be used to extract metals and can be used in dentistry. Mercury exists in three different sources around the world. Manufactured mercury compounds from a laboratory setting, byproducts of mining and refining, and Industrial waste. “Mercury exists in three oxidation states: Hgo (elemental mercury), Hg22+ (mercurous mercury), and Hg2+ (mercuric mercury)”(COTW, 2010). The last two oxidation states can form inorganic chemical compounds, which are predominantly airborne mercury, and organic chemical compounds such as methylmercury. Mercury compounds have many different uses. “The most important mercury salts are mercuric chloride HgCl2 (corrosive sublimate - a violent
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