Mercury (metal)

From SourceryForge

The metal mercury was called quicksilver by Alchemists. It was used for all manner of things including as a general tonic. Don't drink it! It's really not good for you.

It relates to the god and the planet of the same name.

There is a book named Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson which is set at the dawn of modern science where magic and science began to split apart.