Element 80
Mercury
Transition metals
Mercury (Hg) is in the d-block of the periodic table — group 12, period 6.
Mercury is a chemical element with symbol Hg and atomic number 80.
Key data
- Atomic number
- 80
- Atomic mass
- 200.592 u
- Group / Period
- 12 / 6
- Block
- d-block
- Phase at STP
- Liquid
- Density
- 13.534 g/cm³
- Melting point
- -38.8 °C
- Boiling point
- 356.7 °C
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
Periodic table block
Mercury is in the d-block (group 12, period 6). Elements land in the d-block when their highest-energy electrons fill a d subshell — these are the transition metals in the middle of the table.
New to this? Periodic table blocks explained: s, p, d, and f
Common uses
- •Old thermometers
- •Fluorescent lamps
- •Gold extraction
Discovery
Year: Known since antiquity
Discovered by: unknown, before 2000 BCE
Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic number of Mercury?
Mercury has atomic number 80. Its symbol is Hg and its atomic mass is 200.592 u.
What category of element is Mercury?
Mercury is classified as transition metals. It sits in group 12, period 6 of the periodic table.
What block of the periodic table is Mercury in?
Mercury is in the d-block (group 12, period 6). Its highest-energy electrons occupy the d subshell — you can see this in its electron configuration, [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2.
What is Mercury used for?
Common uses of Mercury include: Old thermometers, Fluorescent lamps, Gold extraction.
When was Mercury discovered?
Mercury has been known since antiquity.
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