Why is mercury dangerous? And how to get its vapors.

Mercury belongs to heavy metals, it has a detrimental effect on the body, accumulating in it throughout life. By itself, metallic mercury is not so much dangerous as its vapor or salt. Mercury has a detrimental effect on the metabolism of proteins in the body. Symptoms of acute mercury poisoning appear within 7-24 hours – dizziness, fever, abdominal pain. Periodic inhalation of mercury vapor develops a chronic form of the disease known as mercury tremor. Mercury also affects the central nervous system and can cause insanity. Mercury is the only metal that is in a liquid state under standard conditions, so the vapor of this metal is obtained by heating it.