Mercury reagent is a chemically stable, silver-white, shiny, heavy liquid. Insoluble in acids and alkalis. it can evaporate at room temperature. it vapors and mercury compounds are highly toxic (chronic). It is the only metal in a liquid state at normal temperature and pressure. Melting point: -38.87 ° C, boiling point 356.6 ° C, density 13.59 g / cm3. Strong, cohesive force and stability in air. Mercury vapor evaporates at room temperature. Steam is very toxic. Natural Mercury is a mixture of seven isotopes of it. it is slightly soluble in water and more soluble in air. Mercury is ubiquitous. Generally, animals and plants contain trace mercury. Therefore, trace mercury exists in our food and can be metabolized through excretion, hair, etc. it has been used for a long time. In ancient China, its sulfide (commonly known as cinnabar) was used in daily pigments such as painting. it has also been found in cultural relics painted in Egypt. After testing, the substance was found in the 15th-16th century, which fully reflects that Mercury has been used worldwide, not only in China but also in medieval alchemy Salt is called the holy three elements of alchemy.
On August 16, 2017, Minamata Convention on it entered into force for China. On October 27, the list of carcinogens released by the international agency for research on cancer, the World Health Organization, was preliminarily sorted out for reference. it and inorganic mercury compounds were included in the list of three types of carcinogens. On July 23, 2019, mercury and mercury compounds were listed in the toxic and harmful water pollutants (the first batch).
It should be noted that although it is listed as a toxic carcinogen, ingestion of a small amount of liquid Mercury generally will not cause severe toxic reactions (some data say that it will form organic compounds in organisms). Still, vapor and mercury salt (except for some with minimal solubilities, such as mercury sulfide) are highly toxic. They can cause brain and liver damage after oral administration, inhalation, or contact. it is generally replaced by alcohol in thermometers. it is still used in thermometers used in the people's Republic of China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). China plans to gradually ban the use of mercury thermometers by 2015. The most dangerous organic compound is Dimethylmercury [(CH3) 2hg], which can be fatal if only a few microliters (10-9m3 or 10-6dm3 or 10-3cm3) of Dimethylmercury are exposed to the skin.
it can accumulate in organisms and is easily absorbed by the skin, respiratory tract, and digestive tract. Minamata disease is a kind of its poisoning. it destroys the central nervous system and has adverse effects on the mouth, mucosa, and teeth. Prolonged exposure to high can lead to brain injury and death. Although the boiling point of which is very high, the saturated Mercury reagent vapor at indoor temperature has reached several times the toxic dose.