Definition

Noun: * A highly toxic, white, crystalline, water-soluble compound of mercury, historically used as a disinfectant, antiseptic, pesticide, and wood preservative. It is a corrosive sublimate and a potent poison.

Usage

• The term "bichloride of mercury" is a specific chemical name. It is primarily used in scientific, historical, or medical contexts to refer to this particular compound.
• It functions as a singular, uncountable noun when referring to the substance in general (e.g., "a solution of bichloride of mercury").
• It can be used as a countable noun when referring to specific forms or instances (e.g., "tablets of bichloride of mercury").

Examples

• Historical Use: "In the early 20th century, was a common antiseptic for surgical instruments."
• Toxicity Warning: "Due to its extreme toxicity, the use of in consumer products has been banned for decades."
• Scientific Context: "The laboratory procedure called for a dilute solution of as a fixative."

Advanced Usage

• The compound is often discussed in historical analyses of medicine, toxicology, or forensic science due to its past prevalence and danger.
• It may appear in literature or historical accounts describing poisoning, suicide, or disinfection practices from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Variants and Related Words

• Mercuric chloride: The modern, systematic IUPAC name for the same compound (HgCl₂). This term is more common in contemporary scientific writing.
• Corrosive sublimate: An older, traditional name for the purified crystalline form.
• Mercury(II) chloride: Another accepted chemical name.

Synonyms

• Mercuric chloride
• Corrosive sublimate
• Mercury(II) chloride

Notes on Meaning

• The "bi-" in "bichloride" is an older prefix indicating two chlorine atoms are bonded to the mercury atom (HgCl₂). This naming convention is now largely obsolete in modern chemistry.
• Its primary meanings are inextricably linked to its identity as a potent poison and a historical disinfectant. Any usage of the term inherently carries these connotations of toxicity and historical application.

Noun

1. a white poisonous soluble crystalline sublimate of mercury; used as a pesticide or antiseptic or wood preservative