Is there any element known as Red Mercury and what is it's uses?

Answer 1

Red mercury is a semi-mythical substance that was claimed to be used in the creation of nuclear bombs (some believed that red mercury was a ballotechnic material). It was supposed that red mercury is an incredibly powerful conventional explosive that can be used in the making of small and highly portable fusion bombs (H-bombs) or red mercury WMD.

It rose to prominence due to "sting" operations against putative terrorists. These consist of offering them "red mercury" and then arresting them when they make arrangements to buy this fictitious substance.

Answer 2

I'm assuming SkyBird is right, I've never heard that story before. It sounds plausible, though.
I did want to point out, though that mercury, like many other transition metals, makes colored compounds, sometimes brightly colored compounds. A common mercury compound is its common oxide, mercury (II) oxide. Its chemical formula is HgO
HgO is a reddish powder that when heated releases oxygen gas and liquid elemental mercury - although this produces a lot of mercury vapor so please don't attempt to do this. I've purified mercury this way before that got oxidized and that was probably a dumb move, especially the way I was doing it. I wanted to point out that I have heard mercury (II) oxide referred to as "red mercury" although that is, I am sure, and incorrect label. There is no mercury element that is red. The element mercury is liquid metal.
There may be some confusion also with phosphorus. I should know the reason for this, but I don't, I imagine it has something to do with the arrangement of electrons in the d orbitals, but there are at least two forms of elemental phosphorus. One is red and one is yellow. I've got scars in the way of third degree burns to prove how dangerous phosporus is. Don't mess with it.

Answer 3

Elemental Mercury is silver. Cinnabar, a common mercury bearing mineral, is red. It's a primary source of mercury and is very abundant in Spain. Cinnabar was used for years as a cosmetic even though mercury is very, very toxic.

Answer 4

SkyBird is correct. About 5 years ago, even some respectable scientists half-believed that this substance could release enough energy in a chemical reaction to initiate a nuclear reaction, so it could make possible a poor man's atomic bomb. Mercifully, this turned out to be bullshit. To the best of my knowledge, the most energetic chemical reaction is the oxidation of aluminium. This is the power source of the solid fuel boosters on the space shuttle. But it's thousands of times less energetic than any nuclear reaction.

Answer 5

Hi. Mercury oxide is red and is called "cinnabar" I think, but it's a molecule, not an element.

Answer 6

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let me guess.... you used Red for Mars and... what, Blue for Earth? Just go ahead and use "silver" for Mercury, it'll save time

Answer 7

Mercury is a grayish color mixed with a tiny bit of red.