In the following set of axes, the vertical scale is logarithmic (equal scale between powers of 10) and the horizontal scale is linear (even spaces between numbers). There are no negative numbers on the y-axis, since we can only find the logarithm of positive numbers. Semilogarithmic axes.
Mercury (element) is a chemical element with symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is commonly known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum (/haÉªËdrÉrdÊÉrÉm/). On the periodic table of elements, the chemical symbol for mercury is Hg, from the Latin word-Hydrargyrum-meaning liquid silver. 2  For quite some time, we have known that high concentrations of mercury can be toxic to humans; the first account of mercury poisoning was recorded as early as 50 B.C.
Mercury is sometimes called quicksilver. It is a rather poor conductor of heat if compared with other metals but it is a fair conductor of electricity. It alloys easily with many metals, such as Gold, silver, and tin. These alloys are called amalgams. The largest natural source of mercury is cinnabar, which is a reddish mineral containing mercury and sulfur which has been used as a pigment, or dye, since ancient times.