Mercury Atomic number 80 Liquids Commentary

China, India, Egypt elements

Mercury

• Water-silver
• hydrargyrum,
• associated with
• the Roman god
• of poetry
• and trade,
• liquid
• at room temperature,
• a diamagnetic
• heavy metal
• that you
• can’t cast
• into wings
• for your hat and heels.

Atomic number 80

• Some alchemists considered mercury
• to be the first matter, the philosopher’s stone.
• Chinese and Tibetians, and, later, Grecians,
• used mercury as a medicine.
• In spite of its toxic effects, it is still used
• in eyedrops, vaccines, and dental amalgams.
• Grecians, Egyptians, and Romans used it in cosmetics,
• and is still used in mascara.
• Felt-makers used mercury in carroting pelts,
• producing felt hats and mad hatters.
• Miners used mercury to process silver ore
• and to trap flakes when panning gold.
• You can absorb mercury through your skin,
• inhale mercury vapor, or eat it in fish.
• It accumulates and is extremely toxic, impairing
• senses and coordination, disturbing sensations.
• Essential in neon, fluorescent, and mercury vapor lights,
• and used in thermometers and as electrodes in chemical processing.

Liquids

• gin for grins
• beer for being
• wine for wit
• liquids for life
• tears for real
• ice is nice
• but that metal at room temperature
• should flow
• is plain weird