Question

What is a tailing of Mercury? How is it removed?

Answer 1

Hint: We have to know that Mercury is a chemical element having the general formula, $'Hg'$ having the atomic number \[80\]. The Mercury belongs to \[{12^{th}}\] group and sixth period. And it is a transition metal. It has a very high density and high surface tension. The mercury is used in the pressure measuring devices due to its high density and it needs only less space. And mercury is a good conductor of electricity. Therefore, it is widely used in electrical switches.

Complete answer:
We have to remember that when the ozone is reacting with mercury, there is a formation of mercurous oxide with the release of oxygen gas. When the ozone is added to the liquid mercury, the mercury will lose its meniscus and the mercurous oxide compound will attach the inner walls of the test tube. And this process is known as tailing. The reaction of tailing can be written as,
\[Hg + {O_3} \to H{g_2}O + {O_2}\]
The tailing mercury which is formed by the reaction ozone can be removed by using hydrogen peroxide and the reaction can be written as,
\[H{g_2}O + {H_2}{O_2} \to 2Hg + {H_2}O + {O_2}\]
Here, the mercurous oxide will react with hydrogen peroxide, there is a formation of mercury with water and oxygen gas.

Note:
When the Ozone is added to the mercury, there is a formation of mercurous oxide and this process is called the tailing of mercury. Here, the ozone is responsible for the tailing of mercury. During the tailing of mercury it loses its meniscus. Hence, it will stick on the test tube. And when the mercury starts to move, it remains a tail in that glass. Hence, the process is known as tailing of mercury.