Mercury is a silvery-white shiny heavy liquid that evaporates at room temperature. Metallic mercury is reductive and has two oxidation states of +2 and +1. Mercury is an inert metal that combines slowly with oxygen, but reacts with sulfur when mixed and ground to produce non-toxic mercury sulfide (HgS), which can be used to treat spilled mercury. Mercury is not soluble in reducing acids or bases, but it is soluble in oxidizing acids such as nitric acid and hot concentrated sulfuric acid. Mercury is a strong neurotoxic element, its elemental and a variety of compounds have different degrees of toxicity, can cause chronic poisoning.
