MERCURY, or QUICKSILVER. A metallic cle ment that has been known since ancient times. As early as B.C. 300 Theophrastus mentions `liquid silver,' which he says is obtained by rub bing cinnabar with vinegar in a copper vessel. Dioscorides describes the production of mercury by subliming cinnabar with charcoal in an iron pot. Pliny gave it the name of hydrargyruun when so obtained, while native mercury he called argentin?? drum. 'Mercury was extensively stud ied by the alchemists, who believed that it was one of the component parts of all metals. and they were familiar with the method of purifying it by distillation. Many of the alchemists and iatroehemists considered mercury a metal; but this was disputed, and even as late as 1735 some chemists contended that it was a semi-metal. Not until 1759, when Braune found it possible to solidify it by exposure to a freezing-mixture, was its metallic nature established beyond dis pute.
Mercury is found in small quantities in the metallic state, principally disseminated through its native sulphide. It is also found alloyed with silver, with gold, and with platinum, but in small quantities only. Its principal ore is the sulphide or cinnabar, hut it also occurs in small quantities in combination with selenium. as He ll/011HW and onofrifc, and with chlorine. as calomel. The ores of mercury are not widely distributed in nature, there being but few dis tricts where extensive mining operations are car ried on. In the United States the most impor tant deposits are those of New Almaden and New Idri, Cal.; Lane County, Ore.; and Ter lingua. Tex. The California mines have been for a long time the chief domestic source of mer cure. producing about 1000 tons of metal nually. The mines of Terlingua have not been to test their value. In f.rreign countries mercury is produced in Mexico, Spain, Italy. Austria, Russia, Australia. and China. The Spanish nines at AlmaMit yield about of the total produetion. In 1900 the production of the different countries was as follows: Austria, 5.50 mettle Italy, tons: Mexico, 335 tons: Russia, 340 tolls: Spain. 1111 tons: United States. 967 tons: total,
3523 metric tons.
Mercury (symbol. 11g: atomic weight, 200.3) is a liquid metal that solidifies at C. (-40° F.), and, while slightly volatile at ordinary temperatores, boils at about F.). Its specific gravity at C. F.) is 13.59. Its principal uses are in the separation of gold and silt el' from their ores, in the facture of vermilion, in medicine, in chemical and physical operations, in the facture of alloys. etc. It dissolves and possibly combines chemically with nearly all of the lic elements to form alloys termed (q.v.). With oxygen it forms two oxides, of which the mercurous oxide is obtained by the action of caustic alkalies on mercurous salts, while the mercuric oxide oxide of oury: or is formed by longed heating of merenry in air. The latter oxide is used in medicine and ns an oxidizing agent. in chemical operations. Corresponding to the two oxides, mercury forms two series of pounds. which are known as mercurous and mercuric salts. Among these, one of the most important is the mercuric sulphide found native as cinnabar, and when prepared artificially is the red pigment known as vermilion (q.v.). The two ehlorbles are important commercial salts, and of these the mercurous chloride, or calomel (q.v.), occurs native. The merenrie chloride. or corrosirr sublimate. finds extensive use in medicine, and is extensively used for the vation of skins and specimens. Mercuric ammonium chloride is a white powder that extensively used in medicine, under the name of white pnripitate, especially in the form of ointment. Metallic mercury :ind its salts are poisonous, and chronic mercurial poisoning is common those WII0 11:11lit work with the metal. When taken internally. salivation, ulcers of the mitemis membrane of the mouth. and ultimately paraly,is., result. The usual antidotes are dour and water. SO' also llYintlooic Atm: IlrottocvANIc Arlo.