80 Hg 200.592

Mercury

transition metal

Properties

Atomic number
80
Atomic mass
200.592 u
Category
transition metal
Group
12
Period
6
Block
d-block
State (room temp)
Liquid
Outer-shell electrons
2
Electronegativity
2 (Pauling)
Density
13.534 g/cm³
Melting point
-38.83 °C
Boiling point
356.73 °C

Electron configuration

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰

Noble-gas shorthand: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s²

Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2, which is 2 in the outermost shell.

Related: electron configuration, the Bohr model, valence electrons.

Hg
Bohr model; outer-shell electrons in blue

About Mercury

Mercury is a chemical element with symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is commonly known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum (/haɪˈdrɑːrdʒərəm/). A heavy, silvery d-block element, mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure; the only other element that is liquid under these conditions is bromine, though metals such as caesium, gallium, and rubidium melt just above room temperature.

Mercury: frequently asked questions

What is Mercury?
Mercury (Hg) is the chemical element with atomic number 80. It is a metal: specifically a transition metal.
What is the atomic number of Mercury?
Mercury's atomic number is 80, which means every Mercury atom has 80 protons in its nucleus.
What is the electron configuration of Mercury?
The electron configuration of Mercury is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 (noble-gas shorthand: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2). Its electrons are arranged in shells of 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2, with 2 in the outermost shell.
Is Mercury a metal or a nonmetal?
Mercury is a metal: specifically a transition metal.
What group and period is Mercury in?
Mercury is in group 12 and period 6 of the periodic table.
Is Mercury a solid, liquid, or gas?
At room temperature, Mercury is a liquid.

Position in the periodic table

Open the interactive periodic table →

Data compiled from Wikipedia, PubChem, and IUPAC. Source.