Mercury is known to the person for a long time. Mentions of it are available in "Natural history" of Pliny the Elder. Temperature of melting of mercury is equal to -39 °C and therefore under room conditions it keeps liquid aggregate state. This metal begins to evaporate already at +18 °C.
As simple substance mercury represents transitional metal with a chemical formula Hg. Get this element usually by cinnabar rock heating. Medical thermometers of mercury contain about 1-2 g.
Whether mercury smells
Can feel smells of people only from volatiles. That is from from what the molecules capable to irritate receptors of sense of smell in a nose separate.
In usual conditions mercury evaporates very actively. However olfactory receptors of the person, unfortunately, are not universal. Their different groups are responsible for perception of different smells.
There are no receptors capable to react to mercury molecules, in a nose of the person, unfortunately. As a result and a brain existence of evaporations of this metal cannot fix. Thus, mercury including poured out from the damaged thermometer, for the person of a smell has no.
As far as there can be dangerous a mercury from the thermometer
In the nature mercury — an element rare and very scattered. In rocks this metal meets rather often, but in microscopic quantities. It is possible therefore the nature and did not take care of that the person perceived a smell of this metal and regarded it as the sign of potential danger. Evaporations from very small amount of mercury of special harm to an organism cannot put.
Unlike rocks, such metal contains in the thermometer somewhat much. Intake of 2 g of mercury from this medical device can already lead to a lethal outcome. However too a large number of evaporations of 2 g of Hg is usually not given nevertheless. Their short-term inhalation or to emergence of serious problems with health cannot lead to death.
Another matter — long impact of flying mercury on an organism. Under such circumstances even in the small number of couple of this metal can cause development of diseases of kidneys, a respiratory system, gums. Also inhalation of evaporations of mercury provokes insomnia, a headache for a long time, can lead to decrease in intelligence
To avoid emergence of similar problems, the mercury which poured out from the thermometer therefore should be collected by the vacuum cleaner or a clean napkin and quicker to throw out in a trash can on the street. It is worth performing such procedure as it is possible more carefully. Each ball of mercury which remained in the room in the subsequent will evaporate, doing harm to residents of the apartment, within even whole 3 years.