Mercury(II) nitrate

Mercury(II) nitrate
Names
IUPAC names
Mercury dinitrate
Mercury(II) nitrate
Other names
Mercuric nitrate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.126 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 233-152-3
RTECS number
  • OW8225000
UNII
UN number 1625
  • InChI=1S/Hg.2NO3/c;2*2-1(3)4/q+2;2*-1 ☒N
    Key: ORMNPSYMZOGSSV-UHFFFAOYSA-N ☒N
  • InChI=1/Hg.2NO3/c;2*2-1(3)4/q+2;2*-1
    Key: ORMNPSYMZOGSSV-UHFFFAOYAS
  • [N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[Hg+2]
Properties
Hg(NO3)2
Molar mass 324.60 g/mol (anhydrous)
Appearance colorless crystals or white powder
Odor sharp
Density 4.3 g/cm3 (monohydrate)
Melting point 79 °C (174 °F; 352 K) (monohydrate)
soluble
Solubility soluble in nitric acid, acetone, ammonia
insoluble in ethanol
−74.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS03: OxidizingGHS06: ToxicGHS08: Health hazardGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
H272, H300, H310, H330, H373, H410
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g. chlorine gasFlammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterInstability 1: Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. E.g. calciumSpecial hazard OX: Oxidizer. E.g. potassium perchlorate
3
0
1
OX
Flash point Nonflammable
Safety data sheet (SDS) ICSC 0980
Related compounds
Other anions
 Mercury(II) sulfate
Mercury(II) chloride
Other cations
 Zinc nitrate
Cadmium nitrate
Related compounds
 Mercury(I) nitrate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Mercury(II) nitrate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Hg(NO3)2. It is the mercury(II) salt of nitric acid HNO3. It contains mercury(II) cations Hg2+ and nitrate anions NO−3, and water of crystallization H2O in the case of a hydrous salt. Mercury(II) nitrate forms hydrates Hg(NO3)2·xH2O. Anhydrous and hydrous salts are colorless or white soluble crystalline solids that are occasionally used as a reagents. Mercury(II) nitrate is made by treating mercury with hot concentrated nitric acid. Neither anhydrous nor monohydrate has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography.[1] The anhydrous material is more widely used.[clarification needed]

Uses

Mercury(II) nitrate is used as an oxidizing agent in organic synthesis, as a nitrification agent, as an analytical reagent in laboratories, in the manufacture of felt, and in the manufacture of mercury fulminate.[2] An alternative qualitative Zeisel test can be done with the use of mercury(II) nitrate instead of silver nitrate, leading to the formation of scarlet red mercury(II) iodide.[3]

Health information

Mercury compounds are highly toxic. The use of this compound by hatters and the subsequent mercury poisoning of said hatters is a common theory of where the phrase "mad as a hatter" came from.

See also

References

  1. ^ Nolte, M.; Pantenburg, I.; Meyer, G. (9 December 2005). "The Monohydrate of Basic Mercuric Nitrate, [Hg(OH)](NO3)(H2O)". Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie (in German). 632 (1). Wiley Publishing: 111–113. doi:10.1002/zaac.200500344. ISSN 0044-2313. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Mercury nitrate monohydrate". Chemical Book. 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Wang, Zerong (2010). "Zeisel Determination". Comprehensive Organic Name Reactions and Reagents. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 3115–3118. doi:10.1002/9780470638859.conrr689. ISBN 9780470638859.