Let us now look at the varied uses of mercury. Mercury is used as an electrode in the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide. It is also used in certain electric batteries.
It is used in barometers and manometers. It is also used extensively in thermometers. Mercury is important as a liquid contact material for electric switches. It was also used in mercury-vapour lamps that were used for street lighting.
Mercury forms a special type of alloy with some metals like silver, and tin. These alloys are used in dentistry for filling teeth. Several compounds of mercury are used as disinfectants.
They are also used to make substances including insecticides and rat poison. Mercuric oxide is used in skin ointments, though of course people handle it with a great deal of care now, because of the danger of mercury poisoning.
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