I know there is a related question, that references the Dirac Equation, that relies on relativity, but I've just watched this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtnsHtYYKf0
Which seems to say there is something new on this topic? What specifically has changed in our understanding?
Here is the paper he references.
In short, he (in the video) says that as mercury is large, it's electrons have to orbit really fast to not get sucked in. As they move much faster they approach c and gain mass meaning they are less able to bond with other mercury atoms.
for a start, I know that electrons fill shells and the bohr model of 'orbits' is quite naive.
The abstract of the paper says :
An old problem solved: Monte Carlo simulations using the diatomic-in-molecule method derived from accurate ground- and excited-state relativistic calculations for Hg2 show that the melting temperature for bulk mercury is lowered by 105 K, which is due to relativistic effects.
Which doesn't tell me much.
So, what new information do we have about the melting point of mercury due to relativity?