Talk:Mercury (element)/Archive 2

Trends
IMHO the addition of diagrams on the production and the emissions of mercury would be valuable for the article: Opinions? --Leyo 13:43, 14 February 2018 (UTC)
 * Lars D. Hylander, Markus Meili: 500 years of mercury production: global annual inventory by region until 2000 and associated emissions. In: Science of The Total Environment. 304, 2003, p. 13–27, 10.1016/S0048-9697(02)00553-3.
 * David G. Streets, Molly K. Devane, Zifeng Lu, Tami C. Bond, Elsie M. Sunderland, Daniel J. Jacob: All-Time Releases of Mercury to the Atmosphere from Human Activities. In: Environmental Science & Technology. 45, 2011, p. 10485–10491, 10.1021/es202765m.
 * Unfortunately those articles are behind paywalls, so it's difficult to assess. Further, you'd need to be careful of copyright issues before simply cutting-and-pasting any diagrams. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 14:55, 14 February 2018 (UTC)
 * For the second article listed above the abstract art is similar to Figure 2a that I'd suggest adding. --Leyo 13:46, 15 February 2018 (UTC)

cyclic mercurinium is +4?
As far as I know, the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model for pi complexes does not really extend to d10s2 metals and there is very little if any metalacyclopropane character for mercurinium complexes. I am not aware of anyone referring to these as "oxidized" to the +4 oxidation state, just as no one refers to pi-complexes of +1 gold as being in the +3 oxidation state. Only in early and mid transition metals do we have an ambiguity of +n vs. +n+2 oxidation states. Any expert opinions from TM chemists? If not, I will remove the statement that cyclic mercurinium species are +4. Alsosaid1987 (talk) 19:56, 1 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Good catch. I agree with your analysis.  A Hf-alkene complex might be a metallacyclopropane, but Hg2+ seems to behave as a big proton.--Smokefoot (talk) 00:46, 2 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Good, concise assessment of the state of knowledge with respect to +3 and +4 mercury. Alsosaid1987 (talk) 04:08, 2 July 2018 (UTC)

Toxicity of Mercury
This article is rubbish. I challenge the writers who claim elemental mercury's "high toxicity" to support this. In the referenced Wiki article, Mercury poisoning, it is stated that the toxic effect of elemental (metallic) mercury is due to droplets of metal blocking the circulatory system (after being INJECTED!). Give me a break! Apparently the authors have zero understanding of the difference between Hg°, Hg(+1) and Hg(+2), and need to be kept away from keyboards and sharp instruments. I don't question the well established SLIGHT toxicity of mercury vapor inhalation (both chronic and acute) but I DO question the concentrations at which these effects have been demonstrated. Everything, including water, is toxic at a sufficiently high enough dose. I also question the claim that mercury is adsorbed through the skin in sufficient quantities to cause toxicity (at least, for those not swimming in it on a daily basis). My contention is that mercury (metallic or elemental) is only SLIGHTLY toxic, and while I agree that it should only be used with proper protective equipment and with adequate ventilation, it is no different (in this respect) from most metals - their vapors shouldn't be inhaled, and contact with them should be limited. This article FAILS to point out that bacteria (including some in the human gut) can transform the metal to methy and ethyl mercury, which ARE highly toxic. The metal was used for decades as a weight when pumping people's stomachs, and those reservoirs occasionally broke leading to NO toxic effects for the patient. For ingested mercury to be toxic, I expect exposure would have to exist for very long time periods. I await authoritative references...40.133.182.125 (talk) 22:28, 12 September 2016 (UTC)
 * Maximum authorised Qucksilver levels in the blood. In Germany 2 mg / L; in Belgique 1000 mg / L. Except for the. Banning ver chewing on all antidote drugs against Qucksilver poisoning. Who knows? How does this look in Royal University of England?Royalist3 (talk) 15:42, 16 June 2017 (UTC)
 * Apples and oranges? Apples = how toxic mercury is. Oranges = how much is absorbed from ingestion. Mercury is highly toxic, even though "Elemental mercury from ingestion is poorly absorbed with a bioavailability of less than 0.01%." There is also this problem: "Elemental mercury is lipid soluble and can cross the blood-brain barrier, while inorganic mercury compounds are not lipid soluble The primary target organs of elemental mercury are the brain and kidney." Add to this the likelihood of some inhalation and you really don't want to be around the stuff if you can avoid it. "Human exposure to elemental mercury is mainly by inhalation, followed by rapid absorption and distribution in all major organs." J Prev Med Public Health. 2012 Nov; 45(6): 344–352. I suppose if people are ingesting it under a fume hood and all the mercury they eliminate is also eliminated under a fume hood it might be something less than highly-toxic. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 107.77.195.63 (talk) 01:56, 16 July 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 5 February 2018
In the topic "Toxicity and safety" lots of claims have no citation, nor source indicated. For example "Mercury and most of its compounds are extremely toxic and must be handled with care". No source and this is wrong. Also "Mercury can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes" again no source and wrong. In the more deatail article of Mercury Poisoning, it is stated "Quicksilver (liquid metallic mercury) is poorly absorbed by ingestion and skin contact." So there is a clear contradiction. Both have no source, so it shoud be risen a "source requested" in such statements. 2804:14C:5F86:830A:740C:FD3:6B36:2439 (talk) 02:48, 5 February 2018 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Nihlus  21:02, 6 February 2018 (UTC)
 * "Elemental mercury from ingestion is poorly absorbed with a bioavailability of less than 0.01%. The primary target organs of elemental mercury are the brain and kidney. However, a defect on the gastrointestinal tract may alter the mucosal barrier and allow for increased bioavailability. Dermal absorption of elemental mercury is also limited. Acute exposure to elemental mercury can produce dermatitis. Inorganic mercury is absorbed through the skin by the transport of mercury across the epidermis and also via sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles. Mercury poisoning after the use of skin-lightening products has been reported from several countries including Africa, Europe, US, Mexico, Australia, and China. Elemental mercury is lipid soluble and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Elemental mercury may also enter the brain from the nasal cavity through the olfactory pathway. Humans are usually exposed to mercury in a chronic and low dose fashion. Inhaled mercury vapor is readily absorbed, at a rate of approximately 80%, in the lungs, and quickly diffused into the blood and distributed into all of the organs of the body. Inhaled mercury vapor, in contrast to inorganic mercury salts, accumulates in the central nervous system. Though elemental mercury vapor is rapidly oxidized to ionic mercury, it remains as vapor in the blood for a short time, which is long enough for a significant amount of mercury vapor to penetrate the blood-brain barrier before it is oxidized. Mercury molecules can then be oxidized and accumulate in the brain. Notably, elemental mercury can pass through the mucosa and connective tissue of the nasal cavity, and from there it can be transported to the brain via the nerve cells of the olfactory system, namely the olfactory pathway. The biological half-life of mercury is estimated to be approximately 30 to 60 days in the body. The half-life of mercury in the brain is not entirely clear, but is estimated to be as long as approximately 20 years. Methyl mercury also exposed through fish consumption transformed to inorganic mercury in the brain and retained." J Prev Med Public Health. 2012 Nov; 45(6): 344–352 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 107.77.195.63 (talk) 02:13, 16 July 2018 (UTC)
 * From the Wikipedia article: "Dimethylmercury is one of the strongest known neurotoxins, with a quantity of less than 0.1 mL capable of inducing severe mercury poisoning, and is easily absorbed through the skin." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 107.77.195.63 (talk) 02:22, 16 July 2018 (UTC)

Article is missing the mercury contamination in high-fructose corn syrup, via "mercury-grade" ingredients issue
Grist Magazine did a pair of articles about this, for instance: "Why is the FDA unwilling to study evidence of mercury in high-fructose corn syrup?" and "The FDA sat on evidence of mercury-tainted high-fructose corn syrup". There is also a Chicago Tribune article about it: "Mercury in corn syrup?" Here is some of that article: "The source of the metal contamination appears to be caustic soda and hydrochloric acid, which manufacturers of corn syrup use to help convert corn kernels into the food additive. A handful of plants across the nation still make the soda and acid by mixing a briny solution in electrified vats of mercury. Some of the toxic metal ends up in the final product, according to industry documents cited in the study. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says an average-sized woman should limit her exposure to 5.5 micrograms a day of methylmercury, the kind found in fish. If that same woman regularly ate corn syrup contaminated at the highest level detected in the study—0.57 micrograms per gram—the researchers estimated that she could end up consuming an amount of mercury that is five times higher than the EPA's safe dose." Since the Obama administration specifically targeted plants that produce these chemicals with mercury this is clearly noteworthy and should be part of the article. https://grist.org/article/sweetness-and-blight/ https://grist.org/article/some-heavy-metal-with-that-sweet-roll/ http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/chi-mercury-corn-syrupjan27-story.html — Preceding unsigned comment added by 107.77.195.63 (talk) 02:34, 16 July 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 6 December 2018
ADD NEW USES FOR MERCURY: Recently, mercury is used to make atomic clocks. Atomic clocks are usually bulky and require lots of electric power. The novel use of mercury allows very compact atomic clocks, with low energy requirements, ideal for space probes and Mars missions. 188.30.134.143 (talk) 13:19, 6 December 2018 (UTC)
 * Content on wikipedia requires a reference to a reliable source which is missing in your request. If you can provide a reference to a reliable source then we can consider your request. Polyamorph (talk) 13:24, 6 December 2018 (UTC)
 * might be a reference. --20:36, 6 December 2018 (UTC)
 * ✅ I've added this with the reference provided (many thanks) in the "Applications" section under "Niche uses". Best wishes Polyamorph (talk) 20:59, 6 December 2018 (UTC)

"Hygrargyrum" listed at Redirects for discussion
An editor has asked for a discussion to address the redirect Hygrargyrum. Please participate in the redirect discussion if you wish to do so. Steel1943 (talk) 19:48, 20 September 2019 (UTC)

solubility of Mercury in ethanol
Hg ethanolate is not the only compound to expect. how about   HG INTERCEPTED ETHANOL? what's its properties? dimethyl Hg exists. that's its hiddeous alcohol. Wikistallion (talk) 11:30, 15 October 2019 (UTC)
 * Feel free to do some literature searches and add content based on cited WP:RS. DMacks (talk) 12:47, 15 October 2019 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the. —Community Tech bot (talk) 15:07, 6 April 2020 (UTC)
 * Mercury spectrum visible.png

Semi-protected edit request on 19 June 2020
Change "apperance: silvery" to "apperance: shiny, silvery liquid" on properties table Anthony&#39;s Lab (talk) 11:22, 19 June 2020 (UTC)
 * ✅ Template:Infobox mercury changed. Thank you, . ComplexRational (talk) 11:48, 19 June 2020 (UTC)

Mercury solid density wrong?
Hello, I was pondering something and went to check the density of mercury. After getting the number 14.184 g/cm3 from a google search and soon realizing this is supposed to be for solid mercury, I went to double-check with my chemistry tables. Turns out my tables state the density of solid Mercury at melting point as 14.193 g/cm3. I don't have anything else to check this against and can't seem to find any other reference online for this temperature, could anyone else check their resources?

2A02:830A:B205:9300:1C91:B67D:775C:37D0 (talk) 18:12, 15 December 2020 (UTC)


 * In Densities of the elements (data page), it has room temperature only for Hg, saying 13.534 g/cm3 from sources LNG and CRC. So, for liquid state this looks OK. -DePiep (talk) 09:12, 10 January 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 27 April 2021
Add a disambig thingy, to the planet 86.24.168.231 (talk) 04:21, 27 April 2021 (UTC)
 * ✅. This edit has been made. MBihun (talk) 11:30, 27 April 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 14 May 2021
Current paragraph: Artificial lakes may be contaminated with mercury due to the absorption by the water of mercury from submerged trees and soil. For example, Williston Lake in northern British Columbia, created by the damming of the Peace River in 1968, is still sufficiently contaminated with mercury that it is inadvisable to consume fish from the lake.[100][101]

Change paragraph text: Artificial lakes or reservoirs may be contaminated with mercury due to the release of mercury into the water from submerged trees and soil. For example, Williston Lake in northern British Columbia, created by the damming of the Peace River in 1968, is still sufficiently contaminated with mercury that it is inadvisable to consume fish from the lake.[100][101] Permafrost soils have accumulated mercury through atmospheric deposition, and permafrost thaw in cryospheric regions is mechanism of mercury release into lakes, rivers, and wetlands

--Biogeochemer (talk) 15:23, 14 May 2021 (UTC) Biogeochemer (talk) 15:23, 14 May 2021 (UTC)
 * ✅. I've done some very minor copy editing, and fixed the references (you might want to have a look at the examples at to get this working properly next time). &#8209;&#8209;Volteer1 (talk) 20:29, 14 May 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 1 July 2021
Change: the root of ὕδωρ, "water," to: the root of ὕδρω, "water,"

The Greek letters ρ (rho, r) and ω (omega, o) are the wrong way round. Aparsonsfr (talk) 05:40, 1 July 2021 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: I looked into this and you appear to be incorrect. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 10:54, 1 July 2021 (UTC)

Uses and other facts
Mercury is a element to be scared of because it’s dangerous other uses for it is in early 1900’s it was used to make hats and the mad hatter in the movie Alice in wonderlandwas insane because of exposure to that dangerous element.It was also used by ancient Chinese and Hindu as medicine (bad idea) and eyeshadow in ancient Egypt.Now it is used in scientific instruments but now people are taking safety methods — Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.77.104.24 (talk) 21:37, 5 July 2021 (UTC)

Focused too much on United States of America
In most of the applications, it is written about the US States banning Mercury used. They are all about the USA only and should be removed or balanced. Mercury thermometers may be banned in the USA but are widely used everywhere else. Those should be removed. Or they should be balanced between the USA and the other countries in the world TheRealPJPlayZ (talk) 03:50, 28 July 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 27 July 2021
Please look into the above about the overuse of USA States in the applications of Mercury. Thanks. In most of the applications, it is written about the US States banning Mercury used. They are all about the USA only and should be removed or balanced. Mercury thermometers may be banned in the USA but are widely used everywhere else. Those should be removed. Or they should be balanced between the USA and the other countries in the world TheRealPJPlayZ (talk) 03:50, 28 July 2021 (UTC)TheRealPJPlayZ (talk) 03:54, 28 July 2021 (UTC)

A seeming contradiction in this paragraph on the Physical properties
"A complete explanation of mercury's extreme volatility delves deep into the realm of quantum physics, but it can be summarized as follows: mercury has a unique electron configuration where electrons fill up all the available 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 3d, 4s, 4p, 4d, 4f, 5s, 5p, 5d, and 6s subshells. Because this configuration strongly resists removal of an electron, mercury behaves similarly to noble gases, which form weak bonds and hence melt at low temperatures." -- "extreme volatility" seems to contradict with later statement that mercury behaves similarly to noble gases, doesn't it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mtodorov 69 (talk • contribs)
 * Don't noble gas extreme volatile? --Nucleus hydro elemon (talk) 11:06, 25 December 2021 (UTC)

Methylmercury
in the introduction of the article it says mercury poisoning can result from water soluble forms such as mercury chloride and methylmerury. This is incorrect as methyl mercury is lipophylic and not water soluble.

185.208.241.1 (talk) 20:56, 18 September 2019 (UTC)


 * I agree with this. This should be changed. Marcos &#91;Tupungato&#93; (talk) 12:51, 2 July 2020 (UTC)
 * It seems that Methylmercury is an ion, so should form water soluble compounds. Gah4 (talk) 12:15, 25 December 2021 (UTC)
 * It seems that Methylmercury is an ion, so should form water soluble compounds. Gah4 (talk) 12:15, 25 December 2021 (UTC)

Etymology of hydrargyrum
Can a link to the wiktionary page for hydrargyrum be added? I opened that page because I was wondering about the origin of the "Hg" symbol for mercury. Having that link would be handy.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hydrargyrum — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ewen-lbh (talk • contribs) 11:22, 23 January 2022 (UTC)

Ancient Egyptian mythology behind the element Mercury.
The reason that mercury was buried in Ancient Egyptian tombs, especially those of high authority or social class, was because the Ancient Egyptians believed that mercury made it so that the tombs would be forever protected by any curses or evil, however in some case of highly protected areas the mercury would be present so that the believed evil/curse within the buried would be kept in. — Preceding unsigned comment added by AnOnYmOuSfAlL (talk • contribs) 16:43, 10 April 2022 (UTC)