mercury chloride

Thân thiện

A scientist carefully handles a sealed vial of mercury chloride in the laboratory.

Definition

Noun: 1. A toxic inorganic compound: Mercury chloride is a white, crystalline, and highly poisonous chemical compound composed of mercury and chlorine. It is soluble in water and can sublime (transition directly from a solid to a gas). Historically and in specialized applications, it has been used as a pesticide, antiseptic, and wood preservative.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • In the 19th century, mercury chloride was sometimes used as an antiseptic for wounds, despite its high toxicity.
  • The laboratory disposed of the old samples of mercury chloride with extreme caution due to their poisonous nature.
  • Its use as a pesticide and wood preservative has been largely discontinued because mercury chloride poses severe environmental and health risks.

Advanced Usage

• "Corrosive sublimate": This is an older, common name for mercury chloride, referring to its crystalline, sublimable form.
  • The antique medical text referred to the substance as corrosive sublimate, which we now know as mercury chloride.

Variants and Related Words

• Mercuric chloride: This is a systematic chemical name synonymous with mercury chloride, specifying the mercury is in its +2 oxidation state (HgCl₂).
• Bichloride of mercury: An older alternative name.
• Sublimate (noun): In chemistry, a solid substance obtained by sublimation, which describes one form of mercury chloride.

Synonyms

• Corrosive sublimate (archaic/technical)
• Mercuric chloride (scientific)

Important Note

Mercury chloride is a dangerous poison. This explanation is for informational and academic purposes only. It is not a substance for casual handling or use.

Học thuật

Noun

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

Từ đồng nghĩa

• mercuric chloride
• bichloride of mercury
• corrosive sublimate