Mercury is the only metal which is in liquid state at room temperature. Mercury symbol is Hg and atomic number 80. Hg symbol comes from hydrargyrum, a Latinized form of the Greek word (hydrargyros), which is a compound word meaning "water-silver" as it is commonly known as quicksilver.
Oldest use of Mercury is found in Egyptian tombs which is about 1500BC. In China and Tibet, mercury use was thought to prolong life, heal fractures, and maintain generally good health, although it is now known that exposure to mercury vapor leads to serious adverse health effects.
The ancient Greeks used mercury in ointments; the ancient Egyptians and the Romans used it in cosmetics which sometimes deformed the face.
