Why is mercury liquid? Or, why do relativistic effects not get into chemistry textbooks?

@article{Norrby1991WhyIM,
  title={Why is mercury liquid? Or, why do relativistic effects not get into chemistry textbooks?},
  author={Lars J. Norrby},
  journal={Journal of Chemical Education},
  year={1991},
  volume={68},
  pages={110}
}
  • L. Norrby
  • Published 1 February 1991
  • Chemistry, Physics
  • Journal of Chemical Education
A fresh constellation of experimental facts, theoretical calculations, and discussion of the chemical bonding in mercury that sheds light on a number of classical issues in inorganic chemistry. 
View via Publisher
physics.rutgers.edu
89 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
1
Background Citations
12

Figures from this paper

89 Citations

Evidence for low-temperature melting of mercury owing to relativity.

An old problem solved: Monte Carlo simulations using the diatomic-in-molecule method derived from accurate ground- and excited-state relativistic calculations for Hg2 show that the melting…

Is Mercury Now a Transition Element

The synthesis of mercury tetrafluoride was recently reported. The purpose of this commentary is not to cast doubts on the experimental evidence, but rather to call attention to two important issues…

Relativistic Effects and the Chemistry of the Heaviest Main-Group Elements.

This chapter reviews possible experimental aspects of relativistic effects in heavier Main Group elements and their compounds. Attention is focused on the sixth, sev- enth and eighth Period elements,…

CHAPTER 2 RELATIVISTIC EFFECTS AND THE CHEMISTRY OF THE HEAVIER MAIN GROUP ELEMENTS

This chapter reviews possible experimental aspects of relativistic effects in heavier Main Group elements and their compounds. Attention is focused on the sixth, seventh and eighth Period elements,…

Introducing the theory of relativity

A simple way of introducing the theory of relativity to chemistry students is presented. This is based on experimental observations of the variation in the mass of an electron with speed. Analysis of…

Principles of direct 4-component relativistic SCF: application to caesium auride

A theory of 4-component direct SCF calculations is presented using a quaternion formulation of the Dirac–Fock equations. Screening of integral batches is supplemented with screening on individual…

Relativistic effects in homogeneous gold catalysis

TLDR
This Review draws on experimental and computational data to present the current understanding of homogeneous gold catalysis, focusing on previously unexplored reactivity and its application to the development of new methodology.

A Critique of Atkins' Periodic Kindom and Some Writings on Electronic Structure

This article consists of a critique of the writings of Peter Atkins. The topics discussed include the quantum mechanical explanation of the periodic system, the aufbau principle and the order of…

The γ-cis Effect in the Mercury-199 NMR Spectroscopy of Substituted Vinylmercury Halides †

The γ-cis effect is identified for the first time in the 199Hg NMR data presented here, being proposed as a new criterion for the distinction between E and Z isomers of substituted vinylmercury…

Perspective: relativistic effects.

  • J. Autschbach
  • Physics, Chemistry
    The Journal of chemical physics
  • 2012
TLDR
Some broadly- known and some less broadly-known consequences of Einstein's special relativity in quantum chemistry are discussed, and a brief outline of the theoretical methods currently in use are provided, along with a discussion of recent developments and selected applications.
...