Question

Why is mercury called quicksilver?

Answer 1

Hint:Mercury is considered to be one of the unique metals in the periodic table. It is not like other common metals and does not show properties similar to them. Since mercury is a transition element it has variable valency and hence forms different types of compounds. Mercury forms amalgam with other metals except few of them.

Complete step-by-step answer: Mercury is an element with the symbol ‘Hg’ and atomic number 80. The common name for mercury is quicksilver and was formerly called hydrargyrum which is its Latin name.
- The name is given to mercury because of its mobility. Mercury is a heavy, slippery d-block element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure.
- The only other element that is liquid under these conditions is the halogen element bromine, although metals like cesium, gallium, and rubidium melt just above room temperature.
 - In amalgam formation the metal ion is reduced to original atom configuration and this metal atom is then solvated by mercury atom to form amalgam. So, mercury has to solvate iron atoms by incorporating in the iron lattice. This is difficult as iron lattice is very strong.
- this stability of iron is due to its electronic configuration. Like iron, mercury cannot form amalgam with elements like platinum and cadmium as well.

Note:Mercury is one of the soft metals. Thus, it forms very stable compounds with heavier chalcogens or group 16. One of the compounds is mercury sulfide with oxygen state (II). Mercury sulfide is found in the ore of cinnabar.