: to make (something) more attractive usually by putting something on it.
There are several types of mercury. They include metallic mercury, and both inorganic and organic mercury compounds. Many of these forms are found in our environment, however, the most common natural forms include metallic mercury, mercury sulfide, mercuric chloride, and methylmercury (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp46.html).
Mercury easily forms alloys with other metals, such as gold, silver, zinc and cadmium. These alloys are called amalgams. Amalgams are used to help extract gold from its ores, create dental fillings (in the case of silver) and help extend the life of dry cell batteries (in the case of zinc and cadmium).ercury forms useful compounds with other elements. Mercuric chloride (HgCl 2) is a very poisonous salt and was once used to disinfect wounds. Mercurous chloride (Hg 2 Cl 2), also called calomel, is an antiseptic used to kill bacteria. Mercuric sulfide (HgS) is used to make a red paint pigment called vermilion.