MERCUROUS NITRATE

Chemical properties

Short prismatic crystals, effloresces and becomes anhydrous in dry air, sensitive to light. Soluble in small quantities of warm water (hydrolyzes in larger quantities)and water acidified with nitric acid.

The Uses of MERCUROUS NITRATE

Analytical agent.

Hazard

May be explosive if shocked or heated. Highly toxic.

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. Moderately toxic by skin contact. A powerful oxidizer. Explodes on contact with red-hot carbon. Mixtures with phosphorus are impact-sensitive explosives. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of Hg and NOx. See also MERCURY COMPOUNDS.

Purification Methods

Its solubility in H2O containing 1% HNO3 is 7.7%. Recrystallise it from a warm saturated solution of dilute HNO3 and cool to room temperature slowly to give elongated prisms. Rapid cooling gives plates. The colourless crystals should be stored in the dark. POISONOUS. [Grdenic J Chem Soc 1312 1956.]