5896. Mercurous Nitrate

Nomenclature

CAS number: 10415-75-5
Mercury protonitrate.
Hg2N2O6; mol wt 525.19.
Hg 76.39%, N 5.33%, O 18.28%.
Hg2(NO3)2.

Description and references

Normally exists as dihydrate. Prepn of anhydr salt: Potts, Allred, Inorg. Chem. 5, 1066 (1966).

Derivative

Dihydrate.

Properties

Colorless crystals, usually with slight odor of HNO3. mp ≈70° with decompn. Poisonous. d 4.78. Sol in 13 parts water contg 1% HNO3; with water alone a basic salt is formed. Blackened by ammonia, caustic alkali, and alkaline earth solns. Keep well closed and protected from light.

Use

Fire gilding, blackening brass.