Why is mercury called quicksilver?

Mercury's chemical symbol, Hg, comes from the Greek "hydrargyrum" meaning liquid silver. Mercury is also known as "quicksilver," a reference to its mobility. This reddish mineral containing mercury and sulfur has been used as a pigment since prehistoric times.

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And another question, is it ok to touch mercury?

Mercury is a very toxic or poisonous substance that people can be exposed to in several ways. If it is swallowed, like from a broken thermometer, it mostly passes through your body and very little is absorbed. If you touch it, a small amount may pass through your skin, but not usually enough to harm you. Accordingly, why is gold attracted to mercury? The Mercury-Gold Relationship: Mercury Use in Small-Scale Gold Mining. Mercury and gold have a thing for each other. When combined, they attract and bind in a process called amalgamation. When the prill is heated, the mercury vaporizes and leaves behind a nugget of porous gold, often referred to as sponge gold.

Consequently, can mercury be changed into gold?

Only the mercury isotope 196Hg, which occurs with a frequency of 0.15% in natural mercury, can be converted to gold by slow neutron capture, and following electron capture, decay into gold's only stable isotope, 197Au. What is mercury's weakness? Mercury is a poor conductor of heat, but a fair conductor of electricity. Mercury has a unique electron configuration which strongly resists removal of an electron, making it behave similarly to noble gas elements. As a result, mercury forms weak bonds and is a liquid at room temperature.

Regarding this, what is the most toxic form of mercury?

The toxic effects of mercury depend on its chemical form and the route of exposure. Methylmercury [CH3Hg] is the most toxic form. It affects the immune system, alters genetic and enzyme systems, and damages the nervous system, including coordination and the senses of touch, taste, and sight.