Mercury(II) sulfate

Mercury(II) sulfate

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Names
Other names Mercuric sulfate, Mercurypersulfate, Mercury Bisulfate
Identifiers
CAS Number	7783-35-9 Y
PubChem	24544
Properties
Chemical formula	HgSO4
Molar mass	296.653 g/mol
Appearance	white monoclinic crystals
Odor	odorless
Density	6.47 g/cm³, solid
Sublimation conditions	450 °C Decomposes
Solubility in water	Decomposes in water to yellow mercuric subsulfate and sulfuric acid
Solubility	soluble in hot H2SO4, NaCl solution insoluble in alcohol, acetone, ammonia
Structure
Crystal structure	rhombic
Thermochemistry
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfHo298)	−707.5 kJ mol−1
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Mercury(II) sulfate, commonly called mercuric sulfate, is the chemical compound HgSO₄. It is an odorless solid that forms white granules or crystalline powder. In water, it separates into an insoluble sulfate with a yellow color and sulfuric acid.

History

In 1932, the Japanese chemical company Chisso Corporation began using mercury sulfate as the catalyst for the production of acetaldehyde from acetylene and water. Though it was unknown at the time, methylmercury is formed as side product of this reaction. Exposure and consumption of the mercury waste products, including methylmercury, that were dumped into Minamata Bay by Chisso are believed to be the cause of Minamata disease in Minamata, Japan.

Production

Mercury sulfate, HgSO₄, can be produced By heating concentrated H₂SO₄ with elemental mercury:

Hg + 2 H₂SO₄ → HgSO₄ + SO₂ + 2 H₂O

Or by dissolving solid yellow mercuric oxide in concentrated sulfuric acid and water.

Uses

Denigés' reagent

An acidic solution of mercury sulfate is known as Denigés' reagent. It was commonly used throughout the 20th century as a qualitative analysis reagent. If Denigés' reagent is added to a solution containing compounds that have tertiary alcohols, a yellow or red precipitate will form.

Production of Acetaldehyde

As previously mentioned, HgSO₄ was used as the catalyst for the production of acetaldehyde from acetylene and water.

The use of HgSO4 as a catalyst in the production of Acetaldehyde

Oxymercuration-Demercuration of Alkenes

Mercury Compounds such as mercury sulfate and mercury(II) acetate are commonly used as catalysts in the oxymercuration-demercuration, a type of Electrophilic Addition reactions. The hydration of an alkene results in an alcohol that follows regioselectivity that is predicted by Markovnikov's Rule.

Hydration of Alkynes

The reaction scheme is provided below. The conversion of 2,5-dimethyhexyn-2,5-diol to 2,2,5,5-tetramethylte-trahydrofuran using aqueous mercury sulfate without the addition of acid.

Conversion of 2,5-dimethyhexyn-2,5-diol to 2,2,5,5-tetramethylte-trahydrofuran-3-one

Health Issues

Inhalation of HgSO₄ can result in acute poisoning: causing tightness in the chest, difficulties breathing, coughing and pain. Exposure of HgSO₄ to the eyes can cause ulceration of conjunctiva and cornea. If mercury sulfate is exposed to the skin it may cause sensitization dermatitis. Lastly, ingestion of mercury sulfate will cause necrosis, pain, vomiting, and severe purging. Ingestion can result in death within a few hours due to peripheral vascular collapse.

It has, however, been successfully used in the late 19th century to induce vomiting for medical reasons. [1]

External links

• National Pollutant Inventory – Mercury and compounds Fact Sheet
• NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

Salts and the ester of the sulfate ion
H2SO4																	He
Li2SO4	BeSO4											B	(RO)2SO3	(NH4)2SO4 N2H6SO4 (NH3OH)2SO4	O	F	Ne
Na2SO4 NaHSO4	MgSO4											Al2(SO4)3	Si	P	SO42−	Cl	Ar
K2SO4 KHSO4	CaSO4	Sc2(SO4)3	Ti(SO4)2 TiOSO4	V2(SO4)3 VOSO4	CrSO4 Cr2(SO4)3	MnSO4	FeSO4 Fe2(SO4)3	CoSO4, Co2(SO4)3	NiSO4	CuSO4	ZnSO4	Ga2(SO4)3	Ge	As	Se	Br	Kr
Rb2SO4	SrSO4	Y2(SO4)3	Zr(SO4)2	Nb	Mo	Tc	Ru	Rh	PdSO4	Ag2SO4	CdSO4	In2(SO4)3	SnSO4	Sb2(SO4)3	Te	I	Xe
Cs2SO4	BaSO4		Hf	Ta	W	Re	Os	Ir	Pt	Au	Hg2SO4, HgSO4	Tl2SO4	PbSO4	Bi2(SO4)3	Po	At	Rn
Fr	Ra		Rf	Db	Sg	Bh	Hs	Mt	Ds	Rg	Cn	Uut	Fl	Uup	Lv	Uus	Uuo
		↓
		La	Ce2(SO4)3 Ce(SO4)2	Pr2(SO4)3	Nd	Pm	Sm	Eu	Gd	Tb	Dy	Ho	Er	Tm	Yb2(SO4)3	Lu
		Ac	Th	Pa	U(SO4)2 UO2SO4	Np	Pu	Am	Cm	Bk	Cf	Es	Fm	Md	No	Lr