I understand bromine - it’s between the solid and the gasses, but mercury is in the middle of the solids. I guess another question is why are there not more elements that are liquid at room temperature (maybe germanium counts. isn’t that the element that can melt in your hand?)
Does this help?
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/periodic/faq/why-is-mercury-liquid.shtml
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1997-05/862179191.Ch.r.html
It’s a liquid because it has a low melting point.
Well, yeah. I think the question is why it has a lower melting point than any of the nearby elements.
But thanks for the very helpful answer… :rolleyes:
Hey, it took me like five minutes to determine whether or not it should be ‘very low melting point’ or ‘very high melting point.’ :smack:
Then, with all due respect, you are probably not the best person to be answering this question.
It could have something to do with the pecocet and 28-odd hours I’ve been awake with excruciating hand pain… coupled with just a little bit of humor.
I was always under the impression that it was a liquid… I don’t know, I never really thought about it [in relation to its placement on the periodic table of elements], but it’s certainly a good question, and I am interested to find the answer.
Oh, and don’t worry – no respect is due to me. 
Fair enough, I hope you feel better soon.
One of these days I will check whether someone else has posted the same link already. :smack:
Wow! Thank you Dervorin and Art Rock for the links. I would not have thought that relativity would come into play. It is amazing how understanding has advanced over the years. I certainly didn’t learn about this in A-level Chemistry class thirty years ago.