what does mercury smell like
Mercury is a silvery-white metal element that is liquid at ordinary room temperature; it has no taste or smell. It occurs as metallic mercury (Hg), as cinnabar (HgS) and in perhaps 25 other in organic mineral compounds. The elemental form (Hg) vaporizes at any temperature down to almost 40Â° below zero. The vapor also has no taste or smell. The specific gravity of mercury is 13.546; therefore, it is heavier than lead and, like lead and other heavy metals, it is a potent poison. Exposure to metallic mercury or mercury compounds, even in small quantities over a period of time, can cause severe poisoning.