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Why must mercury vapour be condensed during mercury extraction?

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A periodic table element box for mercury shows its symbol Hg, atomic number 80, atomic weight 200.592, electron configuration, and name. Icons indicate mercury is a transition metal, liquid at room temperature, has a rhombohedral crystal structure, and is weakly basic. — mercury Properties of mercury.

During the pyrometallurgical extraction of mercury, the metal is liberated from its sulfide ore, cinnabar, at temperatures exceeding its boiling point. This process essentially functions as a distillation, where the mercury is released as a vapour.1

Condensation is a necessary step in this extraction process to convert the mercury vapour back into its liquid state so that it can be collected. Because mercury is highly toxic, particularly in its vapour form, this recovery process must be managed with strict pollution control and safety measures to prevent human exposure and environmental contamination.123