Which term refers to the element that is a heavy, silver-colored metal, liquid at room temperature, and is also the name of a planet?

Which term refers to the element that is a heavy, silver-colored metal, liquid at room temperature, and is also the name of a planet?

• A. Mercury
• B. Iron
• C. Silver
• D. Gold

Answer: (A)

Mercury is the term that fits. It’s a heavy metal with a silvery appearance that is liquid at room temperature, melting at about -39°C. That makes it unique among common metals, since iron, silver, and gold are solid at typical room temperatures. The same name also belongs to a planet, the closest to the Sun, which helps explain why the term is recognizable in both science and astronomy. So the description points to Mercury.

Mercury is the term that fits. It’s a heavy metal with a silvery appearance that is liquid at room temperature, melting at about -39°C. That makes it unique among common metals, since iron, silver, and gold are solid at typical room temperatures. The same name also belongs to a planet, the closest to the Sun, which helps explain why the term is recognizable in both science and astronomy. So the description points to Mercury.