Mercury(II) oxide
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Mercury(II) oxide is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is HgO. It has mercury and oxide ions. The mercury is in the +2 oxidation state.
Properties
It is a red or yellow solid. It is very toxic and corrosive. It reacts violently with some reducing agents, as it is an oxidizing agent. It reacts with acids to make other mercury(II) salts like mercury(II) chloride. It breaks down when heated to make mercury and oxygen.
Preparation
It can be made by heating mercury and oxygen at
Mercury(II) Oxide Media
Montroydite structure (red atoms are oxygen)
Cinnabar lattice structure (HgO), red atoms are oxygens*Journal = ACTA CHEMICA SCANDINAVICA Year = 1958 Volume = 12 Page = 1297-1304*Title = The Structure of Hexagonal Mercury(II)oxide*Authors = Aurivillius K., Carlsson I.B.*hexagonal - Trigonal Symbol (3 2) Pearson Symbol: hP6 Space Group: P3221 No 154 Category:mercury compounds
The label on an HgO powder bottle.
350 °C (662 °F). It can also be made by heating mercury(II) nitrate. This makes the red form. The yellow form is made by reacting a mercury(II) salt with a strong base.
Uses
It can be used to make other mercury(II) salts. It is used in mercury batteries. It is much cheaper than the silver(I) oxide used in silver oxide batteries.