October 31 - November 3, 2004
Element of the Day
Friday, October 1
Name Origin: Named after the planet "Mercury" (the origin of the symbol Hg is
the Latin word "hydrargyrum" meaning "liquid silver")
Discovered by: Unknown, known since ancient times
Uses: Mercury is used in laboratories for making thermometers, barometers, diffusion pumps, and many other instruments. It is used for mercury switches and other electrical apparatus. It is used as an electrode in some types of electrolysis and for making batteries (mercury cells).