mercury

Everyday

1. Mercury is a silvery metal that is liquid at room temperature; it was used in old thermometers. tree →
2. Mercury (with a capital M) is the planet closest to the Sun and the smallest planet in our Solar System. tree →
3. Mercury was the Roman messenger god, with wings on his sandals. tree →

In the lessons

In science, Mercury the planet orbits the Sun in 88 days; it has almost no air, so it is very hot by day and freezing at night; it has no moons and many craters. Mercury the metal is poisonous, so modern thermometers use other liquids or digital sensors; if an old thermometer breaks, do not touch the silver drops — tell an adult. «The mercury is rising» means the temperature is going up. Phrases: «planet Mercury», «mercury thermometer», «the mercury is rising».

Examples

• Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. tree →
• A year on Mercury lasts only 88 Earth days. tree →
• Mercury has no moons. tree →
• Mercury is a metal that is liquid at room temperature. tree →
• Old thermometers had mercury inside them. tree →
• Don't touch the mercury from a broken thermometer; it is poisonous. tree →
• The mercury rose to 40 degrees in Adelaide. tree →
• The god Mercury had wings on his sandals. tree →

Note

Capital M for the planet and the god; small m for the metal. The planet's order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Myth: Mercury is the closest to the Sun, but Venus, not Mercury, is the hottest planet, because of its thick atmosphere.

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah, Mercury is one of the seven planets, or "stars", along with the Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

Interpretation. The seven planets are matched with the seven double letters and the seven days of the week. Mercury is linked with one of those letters.

Examples

• The seven planets in the world are: [36] as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• These are the Seven Stars in the world: the Sun, Venus, Mercury, the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →
• So now, behold the Stars of the Universe (Planets) are Seven; the Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →

Note

Capital M for the planet and the god; small m for the metal. The planet's order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Myth: Mercury is the closest to the Sun, but Venus, not Mercury, is the hottest planet, because of its thick atmosphere.