Mercury & compounds: Overview
Description
Mercury is used in its pure form in thermometers and barometers. Many batteries contain mercury. It is used in floodlights, streetlights, and other outdoor or powerful lights. It is also used as a catalyst in the chemical manufacturing industry. It is used to conduct electricity (i.e. thermostats). Mercury is used in dental amalgams. It is also used in the mining industry to extract gold and silver ores. Mercuric chloride is used in the manufacture of disinfectants, other chemicals, and as a catalyst. Mercuric chloride is used in photography and embalming. Bacteria in the water and the soil primarily produce methyl mercury.
Substance details
Substance name: Mercury & compounds
CASR number:
Mercury: 7439-97-6
Mercury bichloride: 7487-94-7
Methyl Mercury: 22967-92-6
Molecular formula:
Mercury: Hg
Mercury bichloride: HgCl2
Methyl Mercury: CH3Hg+
Synonyms: Mercury: Quick Silver, Liquid silver, hydragyrum.
Mercury bichloride: Mercuric bichloride, mercuric chloride, Bichloride of Mercury, Corrosive Sublimate, Mercury perchloride, Mercury (II) Chloride, Mercury chloride, perchloride of mercury, sublimate
Physical properties
Mercury, a naturally occurring element, is an odourless, very heavy, silver white, liquid metal. Mercuric chloride is an odourless, white powder or crystal. Both mercury and mercuric chloride are slightly volatile at ordinary temperatures.
Mercury:
Melting Point: -39°C
Boiling Point: 357°C
Specific Gravity: 13.6
Vapour Pressure: 0.0012 (mm Hg/21°C)
Mercuric chloride:
Melting Point: 277°C
Boiling Point: 320°C
Specific Gravity: 5.4
Vapour Pressure: 1.3 (mm Hg/21°C)
Chemical properties
Pure mercury is stable and does not tarnish at ordinary temperatures. It will form alloys with most metals. It is not soluble in water or most other liquids, but will dissolve in lipids (fats and oils). It is an excellent conductor of electricity. Mercuric chloride and methyl mercury are both soluble in most organic solvents. Mercuric chloride is soluble in water, methyl mercury is not.
Further information
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of mercury and compounds emissions in Australia.
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