Bk Beircéiliam 97 (247) 7 f 97 986.0 [Rn] 5f9 7s2 2 8 18 32 27 8 2 14.0 None Unknown 1.3 {"1":"601"} 601 +3,4 10.0 1 1379 y 1991.y AlphaEmission Solid, Actinide, Radioactive, Synthetic BURK-li-em Synthetic radioactive metal. It has no significant commercial applications. Some compounds have been made and studied. Made by bombarding americium with alpha particles. imXT9QwRzks Berkelium

Mercury was known to the ancient Chinese and Indians and has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to about 1500 BC.

Alchemists thought of mercury as the First Matter from which all metals were formed.

They believed that different metals could be produced by varying the quality and quantity of sulfur contained within the mercury. From the Latin word hydrargyrum meaning liquid silver 97 1949 Glenn T. Seaborg, Stanley G. Thompson, Albert Ghiorso USA Named after "Berkeley", a city in California, home of the University of California, USA

Mercury and most of its compounds are highly toxic

Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature

Mercury is used in barometers and manometers because of its high density.

Gaseous mercury is used in mercury-vapor lamps and some 'neon sign' type advertising signs and fluorescent lamps.

Mercury is also found in liquid mirror telescopes.

Gaseous mercury is also found in some electron tubes, including ignitrons, thyratrons, and mercury arc rectifiers.