MERCUROUS BROMIDE

Description

Mercury(I) bromide or mercurous bromide, Hg2Br2, is a compound that changes color from white to yellow when heated and fluoresces a salmon color under UV light. It is used in acousto-optical devices. A very rare mineral is kuzminite, Hg2(Br,Cl)2. Mercury(I) bromide is formed through the oxidation of elemental mercury with elemental bromine or via the addition of sodium bromide to a solution of mercury(I) nitrate.

Chemical properties

white, odorless, tasteless powder(s); tetr; sensitive to light (darkens); decomposed by hot HCl or alkali bromides; becomes yellow when heated, returns to white color when cooled; prepared by oxidation of Hg with Br2 or as a precipitate by addition of NaBr to HgNO3 solution [KIR81] [HAW93] [MER06]

General Description

White, odorless powder. Darkens on exposure to light. Sublimes at high temperatures.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

MERCUROUS BROMIDE is incompatible with the following: Acetylene, ammonia, chlorine dioxide, azides, calcium (amalgam formation), sodium carbide, lithium, rubidium, copper .

Health Hazard

TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution.

Fire Hazard

Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes. Some are oxidizers and may ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated.