Mercury (II) Nitrate
Mercury II Nitrate is a toxic chemical compound, even though it is sometimes used as a reagent. It has the appearance of a white crystalline solid and it is soluble in water. The density of mercury II nitrate is 4.3 g/cm3. It is also called Mercuric Nitrate, Mercury dinitrate. It can cause an explosion when it exposes to higher temperatures for a long time and produces toxic oxides of nitrogen when it decomposes by heating. Adequate safety measures should be applied when working with this compound. Due to its high toxicity and hazards, it is restricted in many countries.
Mercury II Nitrate Formula
Mercury is also known as quicksilver. It is a naturally present element found in rocks and coal deposits. The word mercury comes from the Greek word hydrargyrum means water and silver. Mercury has the symbol Hg with the atomic number 80. It is a liquid metal belonging to group 12 of the periodic table. It has an atomic mass of 200.59u and a melting point of -38.83˚C.
Nitrogen is essential to all living organisms. When nitrogen combines with oxygen it naturally forms a nitrate compound. Most of all inorganic nitrates can be soluble in water. It has a molar mass of 62.0049 g/mol. It is a polyatomic ion with a chemical formula of NO3–. It is used in fertilizers and pharmaceutical drugs.