mercuric chloride
Học thuậtThân thiện
A scientist carefully handles a sealed vial of mercuric chloride in the laboratory.
Definition
- Noun:
- A white poisonous soluble crystalline sublimate of mercury: A chemical compound formed by the sublimation of mercury, appearing as white crystals that are soluble in water and highly toxic.
- Used as a pesticide or antiseptic or wood preservative: Its primary applications are in killing pests, disinfecting to prevent infection, and protecting wood from decay.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The laboratory stored mercuric chloride in a securely labeled container due to its high toxicity.
- Historically, mercuric chloride was a common antiseptic in surgical practice before safer alternatives were developed.
- The use of mercuric chloride as a wood preservative has declined because of environmental concerns.
Advanced Usage
- In historical contexts: Refers to its past use in medicine and industry.
- Mercuric chloride, once known as corrosive sublimate, was a standard treatment in 19th-century medicine.
- In chemical synthesis: Used as a reagent or catalyst in specific reactions.
- The synthesis required mercuric chloride as a catalyst to proceed.
Variants and Related Words
- Mercury(II) chloride (n): The systematic IUPAC name for the same compound, HgCl₂.
- Corrosive sublimate (n): An older, common name for mercuric chloride, referring to its sublimation process and corrosive nature.
Synonyms
- Bichloride of mercury: A synonym emphasizing the compound's composition of two chlorine atoms per mercury atom.
Related Phrases
- Not applicable: As a specific chemical compound, "mercuric chloride" does not form standard phrasal verbs or idioms. Its usage is primarily technical and nominal.
A scientist carefully handles a sealed vial of mercuric chloride in the laboratory.
Noun
- a white poisonous soluble crystalline sublimate of mercury; used as a pesticide or antiseptic or wood preservative