80200.59HgMercury
Mercury (Hg) — element 80transition metal · group 12, period 6
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is a transition metal in group 12, period 6 of the periodic table (the d-block), with a standard atomic mass of 200.59 u. At room temperature (25 °C) mercury is a liquid.
💡 Known for: The only metal that is liquid at room temperature; once widely used in thermometers and barometers.
# Mercury properties
| Symbol | Hg |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 80 |
| Atomic mass | 200.59 u |
| Category | transition metal |
| Group | 12 |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | d-block |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² |
| Full configuration | 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s² |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2 |
| Protons / electrons | 80 / 80 |
| State at 25 °C | liquid |
| Melting point | 234.43 K (-38.7 °C, -37.7 °F) |
| Boiling point | 629.88 K (356.7 °C, 674.1 °F) |
| Density | 13.53 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2 |
| First ionization energy | 10.438 eV |
| Atomic radius | 171 pm |
| Discovered | known since ancient times |
# Electron configuration of mercury
The electron configuration of mercury is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s², written out in full as 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s². Its 80 electrons fill 6 shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2, so the outermost shell holds 2 electrons.
# Related elements
AuGoldprevious elementTlThalliumnext elementZnZincgroup 12CdCadmiumgroup 12CnCoperniciumgroup 12ScScandiumtransition metalTiTitaniumtransition metalVVanadiumtransition metalCrChromiumtransition metalMnManganesetransition metalFeIrontransition metalCoCobalttransition metalNiNickeltransition metal
# Mercury FAQ
What is the atomic number of mercury?
The atomic number of mercury is 80: every mercury atom has 80 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Hg.
What is the atomic mass of mercury?
The standard atomic mass of mercury is 200.59 u.
What is the electron configuration of mercury?
Mercury's electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² (1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s²), with 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2 electrons per shell.
Is mercury a metal?
Yes. Mercury is a transition metal, one of the metals.
What is the melting point of mercury?
Mercury melts at 234.43 K (-38.7 °C, -37.7 °F) and boils at 629.88 K (356.7 °C, 674.1 °F).
What is mercury used for / known for?
The only metal that is liquid at room temperature; once widely used in thermometers and barometers.