Phenylmercuric nitrate

Chemical properties

white powder

The Uses of Phenylmercuric nitrate

Pharmaceutic aid (antimicrobial). Tree wound dressing.

General Description

Phenylmercury nitrate is a mercury-based organic compound known to have antibacterial and antifungal activities. It is also used as a preservative for parenteral injections.

Clinical Use

Phenylmercuric nitrate is a mixture of phenylmercuric nitrateand phenylmercuric hydroxide. It occurs as a whitecrystalline material that is sparingly soluble in water andslightly soluble in alcohol. It is used in concentrations of1:10,000 to 1:50,000 to preserve injectable drugs againstbacterial contamination. A disadvantage to organomercurialsis that their bacteriostatic efficacy is reduced in the presenceof serum.

Purification Methods

When recrystallised from water or aqueous EtOH, it has m 191-191.5o, and from 95% EtOH it has m 186.5o [Challanger & Rothstein J Chem Soc I 1258 1934]. When recrystallised from *C6H6 or CHCl3, it has m 131-131.5o [Morton et al. J Am Chem Soc 69 908 1947.] [Beilstein 16 III 1348, 16 IV 1721.]