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Mercury
Electron Configuration 2,8,18,32,18,2
Electron Configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
Ground state 1S0
Atomic Volume 14.82 g/cm3
Electronegativity 2.00
Magnetic ordering Dimagnetic
Mass magnetic susceptibility -2.1 x 10-9
Molar magnetic susceptibility -4.21 x 10-10
Speed of sound 1451.4 m s-1
Thermal Properties
Enthalpy of Atomization 61.5 kJ mol-1 @25°C
Enthalpy of Fusion 2.33 kJ mol-1
Enthalpy of Vaporisation 59.1 kJ mol-1
Heat Capacity 27.983 J mol-1 K-1
Thermal Conductivity 8.30 W m-1 K-1
Thermal Expansion 60.4 μm m-1 K-1
Electrical Properties
Electrical resistivity 9.6 x 10-7 Ω m
Electrical conductivity No data.
Chemical Properties
Electrochemical Equivalent 3.742 g Ah-1
Electron Work Function 4.49 eV
Valence Electron Potential (-eV) 28.2
Ionization Potential  
First 10.437
Second 18.759
Third 34.202
Incompatibilities Acetylene (C2H2), ammonia (NH3), chlorine dioxide (ClO2), azides, calcium (amalgam formation), sodium carbide (NaC), lithium, rubidium, copper.
Flammability
Noncombustible Liquid
Optical Properties
Refractive Index (gas) 1.000933
Reflectivity %
Energy Levels
Kα1 (intensity 100) 70.819 KeV
Kα2 (intensity 50) 68.895 KeV
Kβ1 (intensity 27.2) 80.253 KeV
Lα1 (intensity 100) 9.9888 KeV
Lα2 (intensity 10) 9.8976 KeV
Lβ1 (intensity 35) 11.8226 KeV
Lβ2 (intensity 20) 11.9241 KeV
Lβ3 (intensity 6.4) 11.9928 KeV
Lβ4 (intensity 4) 11.5626 KeV
Lγ1 (intensity 6) 13.8301 KeV
Lγ2 (intensity 2) 14.1588 KeV
Lγ3 (intensity 2) 10.647 KeV
Ll (intensity 4) 8.7215 KeV
Atomic Radii
Empirical 150 pm
Bohr Radius 171 pm
Covalent Radius 149 pm
Van der Waals 155 pm
Triple covalent No data.
Metallic 151 pm
Ionic Radii (Å)
Charge Coordination Crystal Ionic Key
III 1.111 0.97
VI 1.33 1.19
II 0.83 0.69
IV 1.1 0.96
VI 1.16 1.02
VIII 1.28 1.14 R
R, From r3 vs V plots.
C, Calculated from bond length - bond strength equations.
E, Estimated.
*, Most Reliable.
M, From Metallic Oxides.
A, Ahrens (1952) Ionic radius.
P, Pauling's (1960) Crystal Radius.
Oxidation States
Main Hg+2
Other Hg+1
Ionisation Energies (kJ mol-1) show graph
M - M+ 1007
M+ - M2+ 1809
M2+ - M3+ 3300
M3+ - M4+ 4400
M4+ - M5+ 5900
M5+ - M6+ 7400
M6+ - M7+ 9100
M7+ - M8+ 11600
M8+ - M9+ 13400
M9+ - M10+ 15300
Vapour Pressure
P (Pa) 1 10 100 1K 10K 100K
T (K) 315 350 393 449 523 629
Crystal Structure
Structure Rhombohedral
a = 300.5 pm
b = 300.5 pm
c = 300.5 pm
α = 70.520°
β = 70.520°
γ = 70.520°