Question

Mercury is:
[A] Purple solution.
[B] Brown-orange liquid.
[C] Green gas.
[D] Silver-grey liquid.
[E] Yellow-orange when burned in flame

Answer 1

Hint: Mercury is a liquid metal with high coefficient of expansion. The liquid shiny liquid that we often see rising in the thermometer column upon increasing temperature is mercury.

Complete step by step answer:
Mercury is a chemical element and its atomic number is 80. In the periodic table, it is found in group 12, period 6. The third transition metal series ends with mercury. Mercury is denoted by the symbol ‘Hg’ in chemistry.
Mercury is a heavy, d-block element and it is the only metal which is liquid at standard temperature and pressure conditions. For this reason mercury is often termed as liquid metal.
Mercury is toxic for our body. It can even be absorbed through skin. Swallowing of mercury might cause mercury poisoning which results in chronic and acute poisoning.
Besides thermometers and manufacture of other mechanical and electrical tools, its property of forming amalgam is of great use in the medical industry. The amalgam is generally used as dental fillings.
Now, let us go through the options to find out the correct answer.
Mercury does now form a purple solution but it has a dark purple glow of mercury vapour which is used in germicidal lamps. Therefore, the first option is incorrect.
Mercury (II) oxide has orange colour at room temperature but the metal alone shows no brown-orange colouration. Therefore, the second option is also incorrect.
In mercury vapour lamps, the light is bluish or white in colour. Therefore, the third option is also incorrect.
Mercury is a shiny silver liquid metal at room temperature. Therefore, the fourth option is correct.
Mercury gives a red colouration upon burning in flame test. Therefore, the last option is also incorrect.
So, the correct answer is “Option D”.

Note: It is a shiny, silvery liquid metal. It has a very coefficient of expansion, i.e. it responds very efficiently to temperature change, even if the change is the slightest. This is the reason why mercury was used in medical thermometers. However, nowadays mercury thermometers are not used due to greater risk of swallowing mercury if the thermometer breaks.