Mercury
Mercury
Mercury is usually produced from Cinnabar Rock, also known as Mercury Ore.
The Rock contains Mercury Sulfide, which gives it its red color. The Sulfur
combines with Oxygen and the Mercury turns to Vapor at a Boiling Point of
674 degrees F (356 degrees C). The Vapor is condensed to form Liquid Mercury.
Synthetic Mercuric Sulfide:
Mercury occurs in deposits throughout the world mostly as Cinnabar. The red
Pigment Vermilion is Obtained by Grinding Natural Cinnabar or Synthetic
Mercuric Sulfide. Mercury is used in Thermometers, Barometers, Manometers,
Sphygmomanometers, Float Valves, Mercury Switches, Mercury Relays,
Fluorescent Lamps and other Devices.
Chemical Properties:
Mercury does not react with most Acids, such as Dilute Sulfuric Acid, although
Oxidizing Acids such as Concentrated Sulfuric Acid and Nitric Acid or Aqua regia
dissolve it to give Sulfate, Nitrate, and Chloride. Like Silver, Mercury reacts
with Atmospheric Hydrogen Sulfide. Mercury reacts with solid Sulfur Flakes, which
are used in Mercury Spill Kits to Absorb Mercury.
Occurrence:
Mercury is an Extremely Rare element in Earth Crust, having an average Crustal
Abundance by mass of only 0.08 Parts Per Million (ppm). Because it does not Blend
Geochemically with those Elements that Constitute the Majority of the Crustal Mass,
Mercury ores can be Extraordinarily concentrated Considering the elements
Abundance in Ordinary Rock.
Applications:
The Bulb of a Mercury in Glass Thermometer Mercury is used Primarily for the Manufacture
of Industrial Chemicals or for Electrical and Electronic Applications.
Medicine:
Mercury and its Compounds have been used in Medicine, although they are much less
Common today than they once were, now that the Toxic effects of Mercury and its
Compounds are more Widely Understood.
Toxicity and Safety:
The most Toxic Forms of Mercury are its Organic Compounds, such as Dimethyl Mercury
and Methyl Mercury. Mercury can cause both Chronic and Acute Poisoning.
The Manufacturing Process:
The Process for Extracting Mercury from its Ores has not changed much. Cinnabar
ore is Crushed and Heated to Release the Mercury as a Vapor. The Mercury Vapor
is then Cooled, Condensed, and Collected. Almost 95% of the Mercury content of
Cinnabar ore can be recovered using this process.
Mining:
Cinnabar ore Occurs in Concentrated Deposits Located at or near the surface.
About 90% of these Deposits are Deep enough to require underground Mining with
Tunnels. The remaining 10% can be Excavated from Open Pits.
Quality Control:
Commercial Grade Mercury with 99.9% Purity is called Prime Virgin Grade Mercury.
Ultrapure Mercury is usually produced by the Triple Distillation method and is
called Triple Distilled Mercury. Quality Control Inspections of the Roasting and
Condensing Process consist of Spot Checking the Condensed Liquid Mercury for
the Presence of Foreign Metals, since those are the most common Contaminants.
The presence of Gold, Silver, and Base Metals is Detected using various
chemical Testing Methods.
Wishing you all the best,
http://www.seeyourneeds.in