Anna Lee MUM," aged 11  Arizona for her question:

What is live silver?

Quick, is an old time word for living, Live silver is also quicksilver. This silvery white metal seems to be quick, if not actually alive, the way it runs around. It breaks into little round balls, joins up in runny puddles and breaks in balls again all over the place. Being a liquid, the only time it is still is when it is safely between the walls and floor of a container.

The wonderful stuff is called live silver, quicksilver ormercury. It is the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures.

Mercury does duty in thermometers. However, it might let you down on this job in, say, the wintery Yukon, For it freezes solid at temperatures below minus 37.96 degrees Fahrenheit‑.