What is Mercury (element)?
[[File:Pouring liquid mercury bionerd.jpg|thumb|Mercury]] '''Mercury''', also known as '''quicksilver'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quicksilver|title=quicksilver definition|accessdate=October 13, 2008|publisher=Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)}}</ref> or '''hydrargyrum''' (pronounced hai-DRAR-jər-əm), is a [[chemical element]]. Its [[symbol]] on the [[periodic table]] is '''Hg''', and its [[atomic number]] is 80. Its [[atomic mass]] is 200.59. The symbol ''Hg'' stands for its [[Latin|Latinized]] [[Greek language|Greek]] name ''hydrargyrum'', meaning watery or [[liquid]] [[silver]]. == History == [[Image:Mercury symbol.svg|thumb|The symbol for [[Mercury (planet)|the planet Mercury]] (☿) has been used for a very long time to represent the element]] No one has the credit for finding mercury. It was known in ancient times. Mercury was found in [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] [[tomb]]s that are from 1500 BC.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mercury and the environment — Basic facts|publisher=[[Environment Canada]], Federal Government of Canada| year=2004|url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/MERCURY/EN/bf.cfm|accessdate=2008-03-27}}</ref> Chinese people also knew about it long ago.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mercury — Element of the ancients|publisher=Center for Environmental Health Sciences, [[Dartmouth College]]| url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~toxmetal/metals/stories/mercury.html|accessdate=2008-03-27}}</ref> In [[China]] and [[Tibet]], people thought using mercury would make them live longer and have better health. One of China's [[emperor]]s, [[Qin Shi Huang|Qín Shǐ Huáng Dì]], is said to have been buried in a tomb with rivers of flowing mercury. He died from drinking a [[mixture]] of mercury and [[powder]]ed [[jade]] because he wanted to live forever.<ref>{{cite web|title=Qin Shihuang|publisher=Ministry of Culture, [[People's Republic of China]]|year=2003|url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_22854.htm|accessdate=2008-03-27|archive-date=2008-07-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/we