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Reactions of Mercury
Reactions of Mercury
Reactions of Mercury
MERCURY
Mercury is a metal and reacts similarly to the other metals in the d-block. Mercury can
react to form conventional salts in the +1 or +2 oxidation states but it can also react
with organic compounds to form organomercury compounds which are highly toxic.
Above 400°C HgO decomposes back to its elements and this decomposition was
important in the discovery of oxygen as an element by J. Priestley and A. L.
Lavoisier.
These halides can be converted into mercury (I) halides by combination with metallic
mercury. Mercury (I) halides are known as mercurous halides. The example below is
shown for mercury chloride:
Mercury will only react with oxidising acids such as concentrated nitric acid and hot
concentrated sulphuric acid forming mercury (II) salts with oxides of sulphur and
nitrogen. Mercury reacts slowly with dilute nitric acid in the following reaction:
Mercury also alloys with other metals to form so called amalgams. The other metal
becomes dissolved in the mercury. Mercury forms amalgams with most heavy metals
including gold which is useful in the purification of gold and gold plating. It can also
form an amalgam with sodium forming a powerful reducing agent.