Wayne Fridley, Age 13, Of Eleanor, W. Va., for his question:     

Does mercury ever freeze?     

Every substance can reach the temperature at which it freezes solid. This is called its freezing point. The freezing point is also the melting point, for it is The temperature at which a solid substance melts to a runny liquid. Mercury is the Only metal which is a liquid at ordinary, everyday temperatures. However, at minuss 38.87 degrees centigrade, liquid mercury freezes solid. Its freezling and melting point is almost 39 centigrade degrees colder than the freezing point of water. Mercury boils at about 359 centigrade degrees.