What is Mercury?
Mercury, also know as quicksilver, is a naturally occuring element which has several forms. Metallic mercury is a shiny, silvery and odorless liquid that emits a colorless, odorless gas if heated. It occurs naturally, usually in the form of cinnabar, and is found in very small, yet concentrated amounts, in the earth's crust. Mercury combines with other elements, such as chlorine, sulfur or oxygen to from inorganic mercury compounds, or "salts". It can also combine with carbon to make the more toxic organic mercury compounds. The most common one, methyl mercury, is naturally produced by microscopic organisms in soil and water. Mercury was known to the ancient Chinese, Hindus and Egyptians.