When mercury falls from the air or runs off the ground into the water, certain To the earth's surface, either through dry or wet deposition (rain or snow). Mercury in the atmosphere is eventually deposited One of the main ways in which humans are exposed to mercury is by consumingįish containing methylmercury. Howĭo people and wildlife become exposed to mercury? Including the atmosphere, lakes and streams. Products, have increased the amount of mercury in many parts of the environment Human activities, such as burning coal and using mercury to manufacture certain Mercury is a naturally occurring element that can be found throughout the environment. Mercury compounds, such as methylmercury, are formed when mercury Included in products such as fungicides, antiseptics, disinfectants, White powder or crystals, with the exception of mercuric sulfide Mercury compounds take the form of mercury salts and are generally Small amounts of elemental mercury (even a few drops) can raiseĪir concentrations of mercury to harmful levelsInorganic Mercury vapor can occur when products that contain mercury breakĪnd expose mercury to the air, particularly in poorly-ventilated Room temperature, exposed elemental mercury can evaporate toīecome an invisible, odorless toxic vapor. When dropped, elemental mercury breaks into Or metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white metal and is liquidĪt room temperature. Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in air, water and soil.

It is ductile, malleable, and is able to conduct heat Mercury is classified as a 'Transition Metal' as Greek word hydrargyros meaning 'water' and 'silver'. Its chemical symbol (Hg) comes from hydrargyrum from the Mercury is also sometimes called quicksilver or liquid silver. Lighting, batteries and in the preparation of chemical pesticides. Is a silvery-white poisonous metallic element.Īt room temperature and used in thermometers, barometers, fluorescent

Hg element