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1
the 1st and smallest planet in the solar system which is the closest to the sun
- Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, has surface temperatures that can reach up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.
- The Mariner 10 and MESSENGER spacecraft missions provided valuable data about Mercury's surface composition and magnetic field.
- Mercury's orbit around the Sun is the shortest of all the planets in the solar system, completing one orbit in about 88 Earth days.
- Astronomers study Mercury's thin atmosphere, mostly composed of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium, to understand its formation and evolution.
2
a dense, silvery, toxic metal that is liquid at room temperature and can form different chemical compounds
- Mercury is used in some thermometers and barometers.
- The lab technician handled mercury with extreme care.
- Mercury spills require special cleanup procedures.
- Mercury can amalgamate with other metals.
- Exposure to mercury vapors is hazardous.
Synonyms:
3
the level of mercury in a thermometer used to indicate temperature
- The mercury showed 37 degrees Celsius.
- A sudden drop in mercury suggested a cold front.
- The nurse read the mercury after the patient's fever.
- Mercury in the thermometer rose quickly in the sun.
- Doctors rely on mercury to measure body temperature accurately.
4
(in Roman mythology) the messenger of Jupiter and god of commerce, equivalent to Greek Hermes
- Mercury is often depicted with winged sandals.
- Statues of Mercury appear in many classical cities.
- Mercury guided souls and delivered messages between gods.
- Artists frequently portray Mercury carrying a caduceus.
- Mercury was worshiped as a god of trade and communication.