mercury
Mercury is liquid under ordinary indoor conditions. This topic is part of Chemistry within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 20 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
mercury trivia questions
What is the chemical symbol for mercury?
Answer: Hg
Bonus fact: Hg comes from hydrargyrum.
Mercury is unusual among metals because it is what at room temperature?
Answer: Liquid
Bonus fact: Mercury is liquid under ordinary indoor conditions.
What planet shares the name Mercury?
Answer: Closest planet to the Sun
Bonus fact: Mercury is also the innermost planet.
Who invented the mercury barometer in the 17th century?
Answer: Evangelista Torricelli
Bonus fact: Torricelli demonstrated the mercury barometer in 1643.
About how long does Mercury take to orbit the Sun?
Answer: 88 Earth days
Bonus fact: Mercury races around the Sun once every 88 Earth days.
Which planet is the hottest in the solar system, even though Mercury is closer to the Sun?
Answer: Venus
Bonus fact: Venus is hotter than Mercury because its dense atmosphere produces an extreme greenhouse effect.
During a transit of Mercury, Mercury appears to cross the face of what?
Answer: The Sun
Bonus fact: Mercury transits can occur only when its orbit lines up with Earth near the nodes of its orbit.
Transits of Mercury as seen from Earth occur only in which two months?
Answer: May and November
Bonus fact: Mercury transits can occur only when its orbit lines up with Earth near the nodes of its orbit.
The Fahrenheit scale is named after which scientist?
Answer: Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit
Bonus fact: Fahrenheit developed mercury thermometers in the early 18th century.
Which moon of Jupiter is the largest moon in the solar system?
Answer: Ganymede
Bonus fact: Ganymede is even larger than Mercury.
Which radio drama caused a famous public reaction in 1938?
Answer: The War of the Worlds
Bonus fact: Welles's Mercury Theatre broadcast presented the story as breaking news.
What is the smallest planet in our solar system?
Answer: Mercury
Bonus fact: Mercury is the smallest of the eight planets and the closest planet to the Sun.