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If the cinnabar is
especially rich, quicklime or iron can be added to promote the extraction process.
Cinnabar contains less than 1% mercury
4HgS (s) + CaO (s) 4Hg (l) + 3CaS (s) + CaSO (s)
4
Therefore mineral-processing methods such as jugging, shaking, screening, elutriation and flotation are performed to extract it.
HgS (s) + Fe (s) Hg (l) + FeS (s)
cinnabar in its massive form
Mercury is leached from the cinnabar with hydrobromic acid.
The cinnabar is heated with hot air. Oxygen combines with the sulfur to form sulfur dioxide and mercury gas is released. This gas is passed through different tubes until it reaches its liquid state.
cinnabar in its crystal form
-
Mercury can be extracted by:
+
2-
HgS (s) + 4Br (aq) + 2H (aq) HgBr (aq) + H S (g)
2
4
Mercury is then recovered from the solution with bromide by electrolysis.
HgS (s) + 0 (g) Hg (g) + SO (s)
-
2-
2+
2
HgBr (aq) Hg (l) + 4Br (s)
4
Mercury deposits are small and irregular. They usually appear as veinlets but can be found as disseminated deposits.
Large-scale, highly mechanized mining methods are needed to extract the ore. The most common method is underground mining with conventional drilling and blasting.
Mercury has different characteristics and properties that make it extremely useful for different purposes:
and other scientific instruments since it
is liquid at room temperature and has a
high coefficient of expansion.
metal alloys called "amalgams". Some of these metals are gold, silver, zinc or cadmium. These new metal compounds are used in batteries or to extract gold.
Mercury also forms compounds with other non-metallic elements. Some examples of these are:
2
2
The main environmental effects caused by the extraction of mercury come from pyrometallurgy; if the condensation of mercury gas goes wrongly, this toxic vapour goes into the atmosphere.
Waste rock and tailings that are created during the mining and ore refining process can release toxins into the environment if not stored or disposed of properly.
3
Methylmercury (CH Hg) is the most toxic form in which mercury can be ingested.
People are exposed to methylmercury almost entirely by eating contaminated fish and wildlife that are at the top of aquatic foodchains.
The contamination caused by mercuric vapours is terribly damaging and needs to be reduced.
It affects the immune system, alters genetic and enzyme systems and damages the nervous system, including coordination and the senses of touch, taste, and sight. It is also particularly damaging to developing embryos.
Mercury is extensively used in gold mining as an amalgam for separating gold from its ore. This amalgam is heated in order to evaporate the mercury and leave the gold pieces. If done without the proper safety equipment, this process can release mercury vapor into the air and can also discharge various amounts of liquid mercury into the nearby area.
Local governments and organizations are putting pressure on mines to decrease their emissions. This can be effective in terms of getting companies to institute new policies or set up new infrastructure, such as wastewater treatment facilities or more effective tailing storage.
Many states in the United states as well as in Mexico (the countries most affected by mercury intoxication through consumption of fish) already have fish consumption advisories.
Elemental mercury, Hg(0), comes from broken thermometers or barometers. It causes tremors, gingivitis, and excitability when vapors are inhaled over a long period of time. It is found in higher concentrations in the environment but is harmless if ingested. Ingestion of other forms of mercury, such as HgCl can damage the gastrointestinal tract and causes kidney failure.
2
If these are left out in the open where they are exposed, mercury can be washed into water systems by rainfall, or can leach into the soil.
Is also known as "Quicksilver" or as Hydragyrum (liquid silver).
Mercury is a silvery-white heavy metal with a density of about 13.5 g/cm .
3
It has fairly low boiling (356.73°C) and melting (-38.83ºC) points and is very brittle when solid.
It is not magnetic and although it is a poor conductor of heat it’s a good electrical conductor.
Mercury is represented with the symbol Hg and has 80 as its atomic number.
It is the only metallic element that is liquid at room
temperature.