MERCUROUS SULFATE

Synonym(s):Mercurous sulfate

CAS NO.：7783-36-0
Empirical Formula: Hg2O4S
Molecular Weight: 497.24
MDL number: MFCD00016138
EINECS: 231-993-0
SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS)
Update Date: 2024-12-18 13:37:16

What is MERCUROUS SULFATE?

Description

Mercury(I) sulfate, commonly called mercurous sulfate, Hg2SO4, is a metallic compound that forms a white, pale yellow or beige powder. It is a metallic salt of sulfuric acid produced by replacing both hydrogen atoms with mercury(I). It is very toxic; it can be fatal if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed by skin. The crystal structure of mercurous sulfate is made up of Hg2 21 dumbbells and SO4 22 anions as main building units. The Hg2 21 dumbbell is surrounded by 4 oxygen atoms with Hg?O distance between 2.23 and 2.93 ? , while the Hg-Hg distance is about 2.50 ? . Mercury(I) sulfate has the mercury atoms arranged in doublets with a bond distance of 2.50 ? . The metal atom doublets are oriented parallel to the a-axis in a unit cell. Mercury doublets form part of infinite chain SO4-Hg-Hg-SO4-Hg-Hg-... The Hg-Hg-O bond angle is 165° ± 1° . The chain crosses the unit cell diagonally. The mercury sulfate structure is held together by weak Hg-O interactions. The SO4 does not act as a single anion, but rather coordinated to the mercury metal.

Chemical properties

White, pale yellow or beige powder

The Uses of MERCUROUS SULFATE

For making electric batteries; with zinc sulfate in the standard Clark cell and with cadmium sulfate in the standard Weston cell.

General Description

White to yellow crystalline powder. Soluble in hot sulfuric acid, dilute nitric acid. Highly toxic.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

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

Hazard

Highly toxic.

Synthesis

One method to produce mercury(I) sulfate is to react the acidic solution of mercury(I) nitrate with a concentrated sulfuric acid solution.
Hg2 (NO3)2 + H2SO4→Hg2SO4 + 2HNO3
It can also be formed by reacting an excess of mercury with concentrated sulfuric acid.
2Hg + 2H2SO4→Hg2SO4 + 2H2O + SO2

Purification Methods

The white-yellow powder is recrystallised from dilute H2SO4., dried in a vacuum under N2, and stored in the dark. Its solubility in H2O is 0.6% at 25o. It is hydrolysed by excessive washing with H2O to form the greenish-yellow basic salt Hg2SO4.Hg2O.H2O.

Properties of MERCUROUS SULFATE

Melting point:	decomposes [AES93]
Density	7.56 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)
solubility	soluble in dilute HNO 3
form	Powder
color	White, pale yellow or beige
Water Solubility	0.05g/100g H2O [KIR81]; soluble dilute HNO3 [MER06]
Merck	13,5924
Solubility Product Constant (Ksp)	pKsp: 6.19
CAS DataBase Reference	7783-36-0(CAS DataBase Reference)
EPA Substance Registry System	Sulfuric acid, dimercury(1+) salt (7783-36-0)

Safety information for MERCUROUS SULFATE

Signal word	Danger
Pictogram(s)	Skull and Crossbones Acute Toxicity GHS06 Health Hazard GHS08 Environment GHS09
GHS Hazard Statements	H373:Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure H410:Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard
Precautionary Statement Codes	P260:Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray. P262:Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing. P280:Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.