Names | |
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IUPAC name
Mercury(I) nitrate | |
Other names
Mercurous nitrate | |
Identifiers | |
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3D model (JSmol) |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.202.814 |
EC Number |
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PubChem CID |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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Properties | |
Hg2(NO3)2 (anhydrous) Hg2(NO3)2·2H2O (dihydrate) | |
Molar mass | 525.19 g/mol (anhydrous) 561.22 g/mol (dihydrate) |
Appearance | white monoclinic crystals (anhydrous) colorless crystals (dihydrate) |
Density | ? g/cm3 (anhydrous) 4.8 g/cm3 (dihydrate) |
Melting point | ? (anhydrous) decomposes at 70 °C (dihydrate) |
slightly soluble, reacts | |
−27.95·10−6 cm3/mol | |
Hazards | |
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
Related compounds | |
Other anions |
Mercury(I) fluoride Mercury(I) chloride Mercury(I) bromide Mercury(I) iodide |
Other cations |
Mercury(II) nitrate |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references |
Mercury(I) nitrate is an inorganic compound, a salt of mercury and nitric acid with the formula Hg2(NO3)2. A yellow solid, the compound is used as a precursor to other Hg22+ complexes. The structure of the hydrate has been determined by X-ray crystallography. It consists of a [H2O-Hg-Hg-OH2]2+ center, with a Hg-Hg distance of 254 pm.[2]
Reactions
Mercury(I) nitrate is formed when elemental mercury is combined with dilute nitric acid (concentrated nitric acid will yield mercury(II) nitrate). Mercury(I) nitrate is a reducing agent which is oxidized upon contact with air.
Mercuric nitrate reacts with elemental mercury to form mercurous nitrate.
Solutions of mercury(I) nitrate are acidic 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 reaction yielding elemental mercury and mercury(II) nitrate:[3]
- Hg2(NO3)2 ⇌ Hg + Hg(NO3)2
These reactions are reversible; the nitric acid formed can redissolve the basic salt.
References
- ↑ Lide, David R. (1998), Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87 ed.), Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, pp. 4–45, ISBN 0-8493-0594-2
- ↑ D. Grdenić (1956). "The crystal Structure of Mercurous Nitrate Dihydrate". Journal of the Chemical Society: 1312–1316. doi:10.1039/jr9560001312.
- ↑ Patnaik, Pradyot (2003), Handbook of Inorganic Chemical Compounds, McGraw-Hill Professional, p. 573, ISBN 0-07-049439-8, retrieved 2009-07-20