Video: The Sensory System: Definition, Parts & Functions. This lesson will examine how the sensory systems are integrated and how they function as a whole. Instead of telling you ears hear and eyes see, we will examine how these systems are actually very similar in terms of reception, signals, and translations.
Mercury is a silvery-white metal element that is liquid at ordinary room temperature; it has no taste or smell. It occurs as metallic mercury (Hg), as cinnabar (HgS) and in perhaps 25 other in organic mineral compounds. The elemental form (Hg) vaporizes at any temperature down to almost 40Â° below zero. The vapor also has no taste or smell. The specific gravity of mercury is 13.546; therefore, it is heavier than lead and, like lead and other heavy metals, it is a potent poison. Exposure to metallic mercury or mercury compounds, even in small quantities over a period of time, can cause severe poisoning.
Mercury isn't terribly reactive, and in order to taste things they need to react in some way with your taste buds. Zinc is above it on the periodic table and elements tend to behave in the same fashion when that's the case. (Cadmium is also above it, but you shouldn't taste that either -- its toxic just like Mercury.)