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Mercury (II) Sulfate Formula – Structure, Properties, Uses, Sample Questions

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Mercury is a naturally occurring chemical element found in rocks of the Earth’s crust, including coal deposits. There is a “Hg” symbol in the periodic table and the atomic number is 80. It exists in several forms: elemental (metal) mercury. Inorganic mercury compound.
Mercury is primarily used in the manufacture of industrial chemicals or in electrical and electronic applications. It is used in some in-glass liquid thermometers, especially those used to measure high temperatures.

Sulfate or sulfate ion is a polyatomic anion of molecular formula SO42-. It is a sulfur oxoanion obtained by deprotonating both OH groups of sulfuric acid. It plays a role as a human metabolite, a metabolite of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a cofactor. It is a sulfur oxo anion, a sulfur oxide, an inorganic anion, and a divalent inorganic anion. It is a conjugate base of hydrogen sulfate.

Mercury(II) Sulfate The molecular formula of mercury (II) sulfate, also known as mercuric sulfate, is HgSO4. There are two types of cations in mercury, known as Mercurius (Hg+1) and mercuric (Hg+2). Mercury sulfate (II) is a compound with divalent cations. On the other hand, there is also mercury sulfate (I), which is also known as Mercurius sulfate with the molecular formula Hg2SO4.   Widely used in the industry to perform a variety of reactions, but first used in 1932 by a Japanese company called Chisso Co., Ltd. Chisso Corporation frequently used mercury sulfate as a catalyst for performing water acetylation to produce acetaldehyde.

Structure of Mercury (II) Sulfate In a tetrahedral structure, the mercury atom is in the center of the distorted tetrahedron and is surrounded by four sulfate ion oxygen atoms. Mercury and oxygen atoms are linked by SO groups in a zigzag chain. One chain is in the mirror plane and the other is perpendicular to it. The interatomic distance between the sulfate and the oxygen atom ranges from 1.48 to 1.49 angstroms, the same between the mercury atom and the oxygen atom is 2.08 to 2.38 angstroms, and between the different oxygen atoms is 2.21 to 2.66 angstroms. In addition, the interatomic angles are 144° and 159°.

 

Preparation of Mercury (II) Sulfate

  • It is produced by the reaction of hot concentrated sulfuric acid with elemental mercury.  

Hg + 2H2SO4 → HgSO4 + SO2 + 2H2O

  • Mercury sulfate (II) is produced by the reaction of mercury oxide and concentrated sulfuric acid. Need to use concentrated acid that stops hydrolysis.  

HgO + H2SO4 → HgSO4 + H2O

Physical properties of Mercury (II) Sulfate

  • Chemical formula for Mercury (II) Sulfate is HgSO4.
  • It is white in color.
  • Molecular Weight – 296.66 g/mol.
  • Density is 6.47g/cm3 at 68ºC
  • It is not soluble in water but soluble in Hydrochloric acid.
  • It is an odorless compound.

 Chemical properties of Mercury (II) Sulfate

  • It easily hydrolyzes in water and separates into yellow mercury sulfate and vitriol, showing the following reaction.   

3HgSO4 + 2H2O → HgSO4·2HgO + 2H2SO4  

  •  When heated above 450 ° C, it decomposes and releases harmful substances, Mercury vapor 

HgSO4 → Hg + SO2 + O2

Uses

  • Used in medicine, it extracts gold and silver and forms other mercury compounds. 
  • Used in the synthesis and removal of chloride ions in COD analysis.
  • Used with other electrolytes, Potassium hydroxide, lithium salt, etc. used as battery electrolytes.  

Hazardous to health

  • Inhalation of this compound causes acute poisoning, chest tightness, and coughing.
  •  Contact with the eye can cause conjunctival ulcers.  
  • When this compound comes into contact with the skin, it causes dermatitis.  
  • Ingestion of this compound results in death as a result of the collapse of peripheral blood vessels.

Sample Questions

Question 1: What is mercuric sulfate?

Answer: 

Mercury Sulfate (II), also known as mercuric Sulfate, has the empirical formula HgSO4. Widely used in industry to carry out a variety of reactions, as a catalyst for performing water acetylation to produce acetaldehyde. it was done. It has a tetrahedral structure and monoclinic white crystals.

Question 2: Write down the properties of mercury sulfate.  

Answer:

Mercury Sulfate is present as white granules or crystalline powder or colorless rhombic crystals and is essentially odorless. It is corrosive to elements such as magnesium, aluminum, copper, iron, lead, and zinc. With a molecular weight of 296.66g, it is soluble in hydrochloric acid, hot dilute sulfuric acid, and sodium chloride, and insoluble in water, alcohol, acetone, and ammonia.

Question 3: What are Denigés Reagents?

Answer:

An acidic Answer of mercuric sulfate is a reagent for Denigés. It’s used throughout the 20th century as a chemical analysis reagent. This reagent contains a solvent compound containing tertiary alcohol that produces a yellow or red precipitate.

Question 4: What is the difference between mercury sulfate and mercury sulfate?   

Answer:

Mercury has two types of monovalent cations known as Mercurius (Hg+) and mercuric (Hg+2). Mercury sulfate (II)  is a compound with divalent cations. On the other hand, there is also mercury sulfate (I), which is also known as  Mercurius sulfate with the molecular formula Hg2SO4.

Question 5: What happens when water is heated with acetylene in the presence of mercuric sulfate?

Answer:

Mercuric Sulfate is used as a catalyst for the acetylation of water and acetylene and the production of acetaldehyde. Mercury sulfate acts as an acid in the reaction, accelerating the reaction rate. It catalyzes the conversion of water and acetylene to synthesize acetaldehyde.

Question 6: Write a brief note about using mercuric sulfate to hydrate saturated compounds.

Answer:

Saturated compounds include both alkenes and alkynes. Mercury sulfate is used as a catalyst and used to hydrate unsaturated compounds. In the case of alkenes, alkenes react with water to hydrate and produce alcohol. In alkynes, when alkynes react with water in the presence of HgSO4, hydration and cyclization occur, producing a 5-membered furan ring.

Question 7: What are the health hazards associated with mercuric sulfate?

Answer:

Mercuric Sulfate has several health hazards such as coughing, respiratory distress, chest pain and tension, conjunctival ulcers and corneal dermatitis, vomiting, gastrointestinal tissue death, excretion, and even death, and is a regular to chemicals. Very toxic to normal exposure. It is also acutely toxic to aquatic organisms and the environment.



Last Updated : 20 Dec, 2023
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