Mercury (Hg) - Element 80 | Properties & Electron Configuration

What is Mercury?

Mercury (Hg) is element 80, a transition metal in period 6, group 12. Its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s².

Atomic Number80
SymbolHg
Atomic Mass200.59 u
CategoryTransition Metal
Period6
Group12
Blockd
Electron Configuration1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s²
Short Config[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s²
Electronegativity2
Atomic Radius150 pm
Ionization Energy1007 kJ/mol
Electron AffinityN/A
Phase (STP)Liquid

Electron Configuration

The full electron configuration of Mercury is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s². In noble gas shorthand, this is written as [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s².

Mercury is a d-block element in group 12, period 6.

Periodic Trends

Electronegativity: Mercury has a Pauling electronegativity of 2. Within group 12, electronegativity generally decreases down the group.

Atomic Radius: 150 pm. Across period 6, atomic radius generally decreases left to right as nuclear charge increases.

Ionization Energy: 1007 kJ/mol. Ionization energy generally increases across a period and decreases down a group.

View all 118 elements with trend overlays for electronegativity, atomic radius, ionization energy, and electron affinity.

Explore Mercury on the Interactive Periodic Table

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