Question

9.Mercury is a liquid metal in ___________

Answer 1

Answer:

Mercury is a liquid metal because it has a completely filled 6s orbital.

Mercury has a unique electronic configuration which makes the outer orbital close to the nucleus.

Hg

80

: 1s

2

,2s

2

2p

6

,3s

2

3p

6

,4s

2

3d

10

4p

6

,5s

2

4d

10

5p

6

,6s

2

4f

14

5d

10

An f-shell poorly screens the nuclear charge that stbilizes the 6s orbital. Thus it is impossible to form any bond with other elements. So, mercury is unable to form bond like other solid metals and that's why it remains in liquid form.