Did you know... mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature?

Mercury (Hg) is the only metal that remains in a liquid state at room temperature, a characteristic that makes it exceptional among the elements of the periodic table. Unlike other metals, which have solid structures and strong metallic bonds, mercury does not form a stable crystalline lattice under normal conditions. This peculiarity has fascinated scientists for centuries and has led to its use in thermometers, barometers, and various industrial applications.

But... what makes mercury so different? The answer lies in its atomic structure and a surprising phenomenon.

Its atomic structure and Einstein's theory of relativity:

Mercury has a high number of protons (80), meaning its nucleus exerts an intense attractive force on its electrons. The electrons closest to the mercury nucleus move so fast that they reach a speed close to 58% of the speed of light.

According to Einstein's theory of relativity, when a particle moves very fast, its mass increases. This causes mercury's inner electrons to become more massive and more strongly attracted to the nucleus. This intense attraction reduces the ability of outer electrons to bond with other mercury atoms.

As a result, the metallic bonds that hold atoms together are much weaker compared to other metals such as gold or silver. Without a solid structure, mercury does not solidify at room temperature and remains liquid down to -39°C.

Scientific and industrial applications of mercury:

Mercury and its compounds have played a key role in various fields of research and industry, particularly in analytical chemistry, environmental studies, and industrial processes.

At CymitQuimica, we offer essential standards and reagents for these fields, including:

• Food industry standards: Quality control in food safety to detect traces of metals such as mercury in food and beverages.
• Environmental regulatory standards: Certified standards for the analysis of metallic contaminants in water, soil, and industrial emissions.
• Biochemicals and reagents: Specialised reagents for chemical and biological experiments related to mercury toxicology and biochemistry.
• Physicochemical standards: Standards for measuring physical and chemical properties such as density and thermal conductivity of metallic substances.
• pH buffer solutions: Buffer solutions to ensure accuracy in analytical experiments and quality control in research and industry laboratories.

Attention:The export and import of mercury and its compounds in the EU are regulated by Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament, which imposes significant restrictions. Check the regulations here: Regulation 2017/852.

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