WEB2 days ago · Mercury is a chemical element; it has symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum ( / h aɪ ˈ d r ɑːr dʒ ər ə m / hy- DRAR -jər-əm ) from the Greek words hydor (water) and argyros (silver). [8]