Question

Mercury is the only metal present in liquid state. Can we use it as an electrolyte?

Answer 1

Mercury can conduct electricity but it cannot be used as an effective & pure electrolyte because it doesn’t have property of having free ions to move to electricity generation. It produces heat but not enough for movement. As we know that an electrolyte should form ions & these Ionic compounds act as electrolytes to produce the electricity. Since mercury is not an ionic compound, we cannot use it as an electrolyte. Most of time it forms amalgam with silver & gold hence no conduction of ions like in  Na , K , Cl  or Mg.

Answer 2

As Mercury is a  pure liquid metal and even though a good conductor of heat ,and electricity but it cannot be used as an electrolyte because of the following reasons:

1.An electrolyte is defined as a compound that ionizes (produces ions )when dissolved in suitable ionizing solvents (example - water ).
2. Ionic compounds acts as electrolyte and
 Mercury is  not an ionic compound as it is an element.