Question

Quicksilver is also known as-
A) Lead
B) Mercury
C) Tin
D) Brass

Answer 1

Hint: We need to know that mercury is an extremely rare element in Earth's crust, having an average crustal abundance by mass of only $$0.08$$ parts per million (ppm) because it does not blend geochemically with those elements that constitute the majority of the crustal mass, mercury ores can be extraordinarily concentrated considering the element's abundance in ordinary rock.

Complete answer:
As we know that mercury is a chemical element with the symbol $Hg$ and atomic number $80$. It is commonly known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum. Quicksilver is the alternative name for the metal Mercury. Mercury, atomic number 80 on the periodic table, is a heavy, silvery-white liquid metal. Mercury easily forms alloys with other metals, such as gold, silver, zinc and cadmium. These alloys are called amalgams and are used to help extract gold from its ores.
Mercury has been used in medical devices, batteries, paints, car switches, clocks, thermostats, dental amalgam, fluorescent lamps, and even soap. Many people may still remember mercury thermometers that were placed under their tongues when they were younger, or watched the ‘mercury rise’ in outdoor thermometers. Mercury is a heavy, silvery-white liquid metal. Compared to other metals, it is a poor conductor of heat, but a fair conductor of electricity.
It has a freezing point of $$-{38.83}^{\circ }C$$ and a boiling point of $${356.73}^{\circ }C$$, both the lowest of any stable metal, although preliminary experiments on copernicium and flerovium have indicated that they have even lower boiling points.

Note:
We need to know that mercury does not react with most acids, such as dilute sulfuric acid, although oxidizing acids such as concentrated sulfuric acid and nitric acid or aqua regia dissolve it to give sulfate, nitrate, and chloride. Like silver, mercury reacts with atmospheric hydrogen sulfide.