What is metal? Is mercury a type of metal?

Among the solid substances in nature, metals are very important. But the definition of metal has puzzled scientists for many years. The difference between metal and stone, in fact, we can easily get the answer.

First, metals are shiny, which means they are more reflective of visible light. Secondly, metals are easy to conduct electricity, conduct heat, and have ductility. Especially the ductility of metal, which is beyond the reach of any natural stone in the world. In nature, there are very few metals in free state, and almost all of them exist in a compound form. Human beings now large and small metal mines are actually engaged in the purification of metal compounds.

The source of ductility in metals needs to be explained at the microscopic level. Metal atoms are connected by metal bonds, so even if the atoms change their positions they can still reconnect into new bonds. This is a property that stone does not possess. However, among metals, there is also a very special substance, that is, liquid metal.

For example, our common mercury, it is a liquid metal substance. We know that most metals exist in solid form at room temperature, but mercury is different. Mercury is liquid at room temperature. To solidify mercury, a low temperature of about minus 38 degrees Celsius is required. Mercury is a metal that has left a name in history.

It used to be a representation of the model of mountains, rivers and seas in the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang, and it was also a gift from heaven that was regarded as a treasure by ancient alchemists. The red mineral cinnabar is very harmful to the human body, but mercury is the "origin of all things" in the mouth of Western alchemists. Alchemy believes that mercury is a material that forms other metals, as long as it relies on different sulfur-containing compounds for synthesis. , you can generate gold. Even Newton believed this. Compared with other metal materials, mercury has poor thermal conductivity, but its electrical conductivity is not bad.

Mercury and other metal food materials are easy to form alloys, so they have a certain degree of corrosiveness. Modern scientists still regard mercury as a metal, and it is so special that some people question this classification and want to classify mercury as a separate substance. Mercury is common in our lives. All kinds of thermometers and sphygmomanometers are made of mercury. Because mercury is sensitive to changes in temperature, it has been valued by humans, but the toxicity of mercury itself makes people have to consider alternatives. its way.

What do you think of mercury as a substance?