Mercury(I) nitrate
- Hg2 (NO3) 2
- Hg2 (NO3) 2 · 2 H2O (dihydrate )
Fixed
4.79 g · cm -3 ( dihydrate)
Decomposition above 70 ° C
Very soluble in water
Risk
- 5 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, mouse, ip)
- 49.3 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, mouse, oral)
- 170 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)
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Mercury (I ) nitrate is a salt of monovalent mercury and nitric acid with the molecular formula Hg2 (NO3 ) 2
Representation
Mercury (I ) nitrate can be represented as the dihydrate by dissolving elemental mercury in cold dilute nitric acid, and crystallization of the salt by careful concentration:
Properties and Structure
The highly toxic solid nitrate dissolves readily in water. When crystallizing from aqueous solutions, the dihydrate Hg2 ( NO3) 2 · 2 H2O separates into colorless, monoclinic crystals. The crystal lattice of the dihydrate consists of linear [ H2O -Hg -Hg - OH2 ] 2 cations with a Hg -Hg distance of 254 pm and nitrate anions coordinated to it together. The anhydrous compound consists of dimers with a linear Hg - Hg bond.
Due to the low stability of mercury (I ) compounds, nitrate disproportionate in the light and with increasing temperature below darkening to elemental mercury and mercury (II ) nitrate.
Use
Mercury (I ) nitrate is used as a reagent for the fire-gilding, for blackening brass and presentation of further mercury (I ) compounds.
Safety
Because of the very high water solubility, a recording via skin, mucous membranes, respiratory tract and the digestive tract is possible. In the stomach of mercury ( I) - nitrate for virtually insoluble mercury ( I) chloride is reacted. Toxicological studies on people lie for mercury (I) nitrate not before. In animals such as the mouse (5 mg · kg -1 intraperitoneally, 49.3 mg · kg -1 orally ) and the rat ( 170 mg · kg -1 orally ) the toxicity was high. In both species were encountered gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea as symptoms of poisoning.