Mercury is a metal that is very shiny and silvery when it is in its natural state. It is also a liquid at room temperature, which means it is not like the solids we see every day like toys and rocks.
Mercury is found in a lot of places, including soil, water, and even in some kinds of fish that we eat. Even though it is not good for our bodies to have too much mercury, it is still used in some things like light bulbs, thermometers, and even in dental fillings.
When people come into contact with mercury, it can be dangerous because our bodies are not made to handle too much of it. If too much mercury gets into our bodies, it can make us sick and cause problems with our brains and nervous systems.
It is really important to handle mercury carefully and make sure we don't get too much of it in our bodies.