Question

Is Mercuric chloride poisonous?

Answer 1

Hint:Mercuric chloride also known as mercury (II) chloride is a chemical compound of mercury and chloride. Mercuric chloride is crystalline in nature and white in color. Like all other mercury compounds, it has its adverse effects on human beings.

Complete step-by-step answer:- Mercuric chloride is a crystalline solid which is an odorless, colorless inorganic compound.
- It is a water-soluble compound. As the compound name suggests mercury in this compound is in +2 oxidation state.
- Mercury exhibits two oxidation states +1 and +2, mercurous is used for the naming when mercury is in +1 oxidation state and mercuric is used in case of +2 oxidation state.
- It consists of a mercury atom that is bonded with two chlorines due to which is known as a triatomic molecule.
- It is highly toxic and the corrosive as well due to the mucous membrane. This compound is mostly used as a wood preservative, disinfectant, fungicide, and antiseptic.
- Earlier, it was used for the treatment of syphilis, but due to the highly toxic effects of mercuric chloride, it is no longer used for medical purposes.

Note:The main application of mercuric chloride nowadays is as a catalyst in the conversion of acetylene to vinyl chloride. It is sometimes used to amalgamate aluminum so that aluminum can undergo various reactions. Usually, aluminum has a layer of aluminum oxide and because this is inert, amalgamation removes this nature so that aluminum can undergo various reactions.