Why does Mercury have an average density that is close to that of Earth?

Compared to Earth, Mercury is much smaller, which is why it inner regions are subject to less in the way of compression. Therefore, its high density is believed to be the result of a large, and iron-rich core.

Why is Mercury as dense as Earth?

Measurements of Mercury’s density infer that much of the planet must be made of a iron-rich core that accounts for 60% of the planet’s mass and an incredible 75% of its radius!

Why is Mercury closest to Earth?

By using a more accurate method for estimating the average distance between two orbiting bodies, we find that this distance is proportional to the relative radius of the inner orbit. In other words, Mercury is closer to Earth, on average, than Venus is because it orbits the Sun more closely.

Do Mercury and Earth have the same density?

In fact, Mercury’s mass is approximately 3.3 x 10²³ kg (5.5% the mass of Earth) which means that its density – at 5.427 g/cm³ – is the second highest of any planet in the Solar System, only slightly less than Earth’s (5.515 g/cm³).

Which planet has a density closest to Earth?

Plot Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars – the planets closest to the sun – in red and Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune – the planets farthest from the sun – in blue.



Average Densities (g/ml)

What’s the density of Mercury?

13.5 g/mL

Mercury has a density of 13.5 g/mL, which is about 13.5 times denser than water (1.0 g/mL), so a small amount of mercury like this feels unexpectedly heavy. Mercury also has a very high surface tension, so small droplets of mercury form nearly spherical beads on glass.

Is mercury dense element?

Mercury metal has many uses. Because of its high density it is used in barometers and manometers. It is extensively used in thermometers, thanks to its high rate of thermal expansion that is fairly constant over a wide temperature range.

What is the density of mercury in Class 7?

Density of mercury is 13,600 kg/m³.

What is special about mercury element?

Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at standard temperature and pressure. The only other liquid element under standard conditions is bromine (a halogen), although the metals rubidium, cesium, and gallium melt at a temperature just above room temperature.

What happens to the density of mercury when heated?

although to be particular, it will slightly increase (the particles move slightly farther apart while maintaining the same mass, though the intermolecular forces hold it together well).

Why does mercury expand when heated?

The expansion occurs because the atoms in a material vibrate more strongly as you add heat energy to them; as the vibrations increase, the average distance between atoms also increases.

Does mercury contract when heated?

When heated or cooled, mercury expands or contracts at a rate that is more constant than most other substances. Also, it has a wide range of temperatures between its boiling and freezing points.

Does mercury expand on heating?

Mercury’s Expansion. Mercury’s volume coefficient of expansion is 0.00018, so it expands by . 018 percent in volume for every degree of temperature increase.

Why is mercury used in glass thermometer?

Mercury is the only one in liquid state at room temperature. It’s used in thermometers because it has high coefficient of expansion. Hence, the slightest change in temperature is notable when it’s used in a thermometer. It also has a high boiling point which makes it very suitable to measure higher temperatures.

Why mercury is poor conductor of heat?

Mercury is a poor conductor of heat, but a good conductor of electricity. Mercury has a single electron configuration that strongly resists the removal of an electron, making it behave similarly to noble gas elements.

Why is mercury used in sphygmomanometer?

Mercury has a specific gravity of about 13.6, i.e. it is 13.6 times denser as compared to water and thus a comparable water column will require 13.6 times the height (as compared to mercury column). Hence mercury is used as a standard fluid in blood measurement and other pressure measurement devices. Hope this helps.

What is mercury sphygmomanometer?

Mercury sphygmomanometers are considered the gold standard. They indicate pressure with a column of mercury, which does not require recalibration. Because of their accuracy, they are often used in clinical trials of drugs and in clinical evaluations of high-risk patients, including pregnant women.

How much mercury is in a sphygmomanometer?

a desk mounted sphygmomanometer (used to monitor blood pressure) containing about 85 g of mercury. a barometer that may contain up to 160 g of mercury.

Does a sphygmomanometer contain mercury?

Sphygmomanometer contains 50 to 140 g metal mercury inside the column and bulb,³ and is the second largest mercury-use device next to lamps among entire equipment in Japan,^{4, 5} whereas reduction of mercury volume encapsulated in fluorescent lamps have been promoted by replacing to light-emitting diode (LED) lamps.

Who invented mercury sphygmomanometer?

In 1881, von Basch created the sphygmomanometer and the first non-invasive BP measurements. However, in 1896, Scipione Riva-Rocci developed further the mercury sphygmomanometer, almost as we know it today.