Mercury oxide

Description

Mercury oxide · CAS 12653-71-3 · HgO. UNII IY191986AO. Melting Point: Decomposes at 932 °F (EPA, 1998); Melting Point: 500 °C (decomp); Solubility: 0.0053 G/100 CC WATER @ 25 °C.

Identification

CAS Registry Number	12653-71-3
PubChem CID	30856
Molecular formula	HgO
IUPAC name	oxomercury
UNII (FDA)	IY191986AO

Computed Descriptors

Molecular Weight	216.59
Hydrogen Bond Donor Count	0
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count	1
Rotatable Bond Count	0
Exact Mass	217.965558
Monoisotopic Mass	217.965558
Topological Polar Surface Area	17.1
Heavy Atom Count	2
Formal Charge	0
Complexity	2

Physical & Chemical Properties

Melting Point	Decomposes at 932 °F (EPA, 1998)
Melting Point	500 °C (decomp)
Solubility	0.0053 G/100 CC WATER @ 25 °C
Solubility	0.0395 G/100 CC WATER @ 100 °C
Density	11.00-11.29 (Red); 11.03 @ 27.5 °C (Yellow)
Density	11.1 g/cm³
Density	11.14 @25 °C
Decomposition	500 °C
Formulations/Preparations	Contains 99-99.5% HgO

Physical description & handling notes

• Yellow, orange-yellow, or red crystals; Insoluble in water; [ICSC] Powder; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS]
• YELLOW, ORANGE-YELLOW OR RED HEAVY CRYSTALLINE POWDER.
• Yellow mercuric oxide: yellow or orange-yellow, heavy, powder, orthorhombic structure
• Heavy, bright orange powder
• Red mercuric oxide: bright red or orange-red, heavy, crystalline powder or scales; orthorhombic structure; yellow when finely powdered
• Odorless

GHS Hazard Classification

Reported hazard statements	H300 (100%), H310 (98.7%), H330 (100%), H373 (100%), H400 (98.7%), H410 (100%), H311, H315

Documented Uses

• Yellow mercuric oxide: Used to make organic mercurials, as a catalyst, and in chemical analysis; Red mercuric oxide: Used in marine and porcelain paints, dry batteries, as a chemical reagent, and catalyst; Both are used as topical antiseptics; [Merck Index] Used as a pigment, glass modifier, chemical intermediate, and cosmetics preservative; Yellow mercuric oxide is also used as a fungicide paste for treating fruit and rubber trees; [HSDB]
• Battery Manufacturing [Category: Industry]
• Painting (Pigments, Binders, and Biocides) [Category: Paint]
• Using Disinfectants or Biocides [Category: Clean]
• Yellow mercuric oxide: for determining zinc or hydrogen cyanide; detecting acetic acid in formic acid, CO in gas mixtures
• Red mercuric oxide: in marine bottom paints, diluting pigments for painting on porcelain; with graphite as depolarizer in dry batteries; in Kjeldahl nitrogen detn; as reagent for citric acid, thiophene, glucose, aldehyde, urea, acetone; as reagent and catalyst in organic reactions

Synonyms

MERCURIC OXIDE; Mercury(II) oxide; 21908-53-2; oxomercury; Mercuric oxide, red; Santar; Red Precipitate; Red mercuric oxide; Mercury oxide (HgO); Mercuric oxide, yellow; Santar M; Yellow precipitate; Mercuric oxide red; Natural montroydite; Mercury(2+) oxide; Red oxide of mercury

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the CAS number and molecular formula of Mercury oxide?

CAS 12653-71-3; molecular formula HgO; molecular weight — g/mol.

What other names is Mercury oxide known by?

MERCURIC OXIDE, Mercury(II) oxide, 21908-53-2, oxomercury, Mercuric oxide, red, Santar.

Is Mercury oxide classified as hazardous?

Hazard statements reported: H300, H310, H330, H373, H400.

What are the key physical properties of Mercury oxide?

Melting Point: Decomposes at 932 °F (EPA, 1998); Melting Point: 500 °C (decomp); Solubility: 0.0053 G/100 CC WATER @ 25 °C; Solubility: 0.0395 G/100 CC WATER @ 100 °C.

Facts on this page are taken from PubChem (US National Library of Medicine) and Wikidata. Grade-specific data — assay, moisture, particle size, packaging, shelf life — is issued per batch on the COA and is not published here.