Question

Name an ore of mercury and write its formula.

Answer 1

1. An ore of a metal is a mineral that contains the metal in a sufficient quantity such that it can be used for the extraction of metal on a commercial scale. For example, bauxite $\left({\mathrm{Al}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3·2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$ is the ore of Aluminium.
2. Mercury exists in different forms in the earth's crust. The minerals of mercury include sulphides, selenides, tellurides, hydrides, oxides etc. Examples include Cinnabar $\left(\mathrm{HgS}\right)$, Tiemannite $\left(\mathrm{HgSe}\right)$, montroydite $\left(\mathrm{HgO}\right)$ etc. The easiest available mineral of mercury from which it can be extracted economically is considered its ore.
3. Therefore, the ore of mercury is cinnabar which is a sulphide with the chemical formula $\mathrm{HgS}$. Cinnabar is crushed and heated to release mercury in the form of vapor. The mercury vapours are collected and condensed to obtain mercury in pure form.