Mercury(II) hydroxide
Mercury(II) hydroxide or mercury dihydroxide is an inorganic metal hydroxide with the chemical formula HgH2O2 or more commonly written as Hg(OH)2.
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IUPAC name
mercury dihydroxide | |
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Properties | |
H2HgO2 | |
Molar mass | 234.605 |
−100.00·10−6 cm3/mol | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
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Synthesis
It is not possible to make the chemical by adding OH− to Hg2+ in aqueous solution, since this merely precipitates yellow solid HgO, although it is possible that Hg(OH)2 is momentarily produced during the reaction.[1]
The first experimental evidence for the existence of the molecule was reported by Wang and Andrews in 2004.[1] They produced it by irradiating a frozen mixture of mercury, oxygen and hydrogen with light from a mercury arc lamp. The mixture had been produced by evaporating mercury atoms at 50 °C into a gas consisting of neon, argon or deuterium (in separate experiments) plus 2 to 8% hydrogen and 0.2 to 2.0% oxygen. The mixture was then condensed at 5 kelvins onto a caesium iodide window, through which it could be irradiated.[1]
References
- Xuefeng Wang; Lester Andrews (November 18, 2004). "Infrared Spectrum of Hg(OH)2 in Solid Neon and Argon". Inorganic Chemistry. 44 (1): 108–11. doi:10.1021/ic048673w. PMID 15627366.