Mercury(I) nitrate
Encyclopedia
Mercury nitrate is a chemical compound
with the formula Hg2(NO3)2. It is used in the preparation of other mercury
(I) compounds, and, like all other mercury compounds, it is toxic.
(concentrated nitric acid will yield mercury(II) nitrate
). Mercury(I) nitrate is a reducing agent
which is oxidized upon contact with air.
Solutions of mercury(I) nitrate are acid
ic due to slow reaction with water:
Hg2(NO3)(OH) forms a yellow precipitate.
If the solution is boiled or exposed to light, mercury(I) nitrate undergoes a disproportionation
reaction yielding elemental mercury and mercury(II) nitrate:
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
with the formula Hg2(NO3)2. It is used in the preparation of other mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
(I) compounds, and, like all other mercury compounds, it is toxic.
Reactions
Mercury(I) nitrate is formed when elemental mercury is combined with dilute nitric acidNitric acid
Nitric acid , also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid.Colorless when pure, older samples tend to acquire a yellow cast due to the accumulation of oxides of nitrogen. If the solution contains more than 86% nitric acid, it is referred to as fuming...
(concentrated nitric acid will yield mercury(II) nitrate
Mercury(II) nitrate
Mercury nitrate is a toxic colorless or white soluble crystalline mercury salt of nitric acid. It was also used to treat fur to make felt in a process called 'carroting'. The phrase 'mad as a hatter' is associated with psychological illness brought on by excessive exposure to mercury nitrate...
). Mercury(I) nitrate is a reducing agent
Reducing agent
A reducing agent is the element or compound in a reduction-oxidation reaction that donates an electron to another species; however, since the reducer loses an electron we say it is "oxidized"...
which is oxidized upon contact with air.
Solutions of mercury(I) nitrate are acid
Acid
An acid is a substance which reacts with a base. Commonly, acids can be identified as tasting sour, reacting with metals such as calcium, and bases like sodium carbonate. Aqueous acids have a pH of less than 7, where an acid of lower pH is typically stronger, and turn blue litmus paper red...
ic due to slow reaction with water:
- Hg2(NO3)2 + H2O → Hg2(NO3)(OH) + HNO3
Hg2(NO3)(OH) forms a yellow precipitate.
If the solution is boiled or exposed to light, mercury(I) nitrate undergoes a disproportionation
Disproportionation
Disproportionation, also known as dismutation is used to describe a specific type of redox reaction in which a species is simultaneously reduced and oxidized so as to form two different products....
reaction yielding elemental mercury and mercury(II) nitrate:
- 2Hg2(NO3)2 → Hg + Hg(NO3)2