What is mercury?

Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring, highly volatile heavy metal. It is found in trace quantities throughout the environment – rocks, soils and the oceans. Being an element, mercury never breaks down but persists in the environment, cycling through land, air and water. All forms of mercury are not the same. Mercury can exist in the environment in elemental, organic or inorganic forms. According to the International Chemical Safety Council of United Nations, an organic form of mercury – methyl mercury – is one of the six most serious pollution threats to the planet. Elemental mercury is the familiar mercury

metal, which is used in thermometers, barometers, some electrical switches and other applications. It can exist both as a vapour and a solid at room temperature.