Sound travels faster in mercury than in ice. The speed of sound is influenced by the properties of the medium through which it travels, such as density and elasticity. Generally, sound travels faster in denser and more elastic materials.
Mercury is a dense liquid metal, and it has a relatively high density compared to ice. It is also highly compressible, which means it can transmit sound waves effectively. Therefore, the speed of sound in mercury is significantly higher than in ice.
In contrast, ice is a solid form of water and has a lower density and lower elasticity compared to mercury. These factors result in a slower speed of sound in ice compared to mercury.
The speed of sound in a specific medium depends on other factors as well, such as temperature and pressure. However, in general, mercury will have a higher velocity of sound than ice.