hydrargyros

Hydrargyros is the ancient Greek name for the element mercury. From Greek hydor (water) and argyros (silver), the term reflects mercury’s liquid, metallic appearance. The Latin form hydrargyrum and the chemical symbol Hg derive from the same roots; in modern usage, mercury is the standard name for the element, while hydrargyros is encountered mainly in historical, linguistic, or scholarly contexts.

Mercury is a dense, silvery liquid metal at room temperature and one of the few elements that is liquid under ordinary conditions. It has a density of about 13.53 g/cm3, a melting point of −38.83 °C, and a boiling point of 356.73 °C. It forms amalgams with many metals and has a notable tendency to vaporize, producing toxic mercury vapor at room temperature.

Mercury occurs in nature mainly as the mineral cinnabar (mercury sulfide, HgS). It is extracted by roasting cinnabar to release elemental mercury. Historically, mercury has been used in gold mining via amalgamation and in medicines, pigments, and scientific instruments such as thermometers, barometers, and switches. In contemporary practice its use is more limited and tightly regulated due to health and environmental concerns.

Health and safety: Mercury and many of its compounds are toxic, with exposure potentially causing neurological and renal damage. Avoid inhaling vapors; contain and recycle mercury-containing devices; prevent environmental releases and proper disposal. Ongoing research and regulation aim to reduce mercury emissions and limit exposure, given its persistence and bioaccumulation in ecosystems.