Chemistry Question #34

Pierce H., a 12 year old male from the Internet asks on July 23, 1999,

Does mercury in its gas form act the same way as air - I mean if heated, does it rise?

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The answer

Barry Shell answered on July 23, 1999

Mercury gas should behave like any gas and follow all the gas laws. So yes, when heated it would become less dense for a particular volume, and that volume, would be lighter than the same cooler volume of mercury. You would have to look up the density of mercury gas, because it might be heavier than air, in which case it would not rise in ordinary air.

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