Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum from the Greek words hydor (water) and argyros (silver)
. Mercury is a heavy, silvery-white, liquid-at-room-temperature element that is a poor conductor of heat but a fair conductor of electricity
. It is used primarily for the manufacture of industrial chemicals, electrical and electronic applications, and in some liquid-in-glass thermometers, especially those used to measure high temperatures
. Mercury exists in several forms, some of which occur naturally in the environment. Metallic or elemental mercury is an odorless, shiny, silver-white liquid that is commonly used in thermometers, barometers, and fluorescent light bulbs
. Inorganic mercury compounds, such as methylmercury, can be found in the environment, primarily as minerals like cinnabar and metacinnabar, and as impurities in other minerals
. Methylmercury is a highly toxic form of mercury that can accumulate in the environment, particularly in fish and shellfish
. Exposure to mercury can lead to serious health effects, including impaired coordination, speech, hearing, and vision, mood swings, memory loss, muscle weakness, numbness, and skin rashes
. Mercury poisoning can result from exposure to water-soluble forms of mercury, inhalation of mercury vapor, or ingestion of any form of mercury
