Mercury(I) nitrate
Introduction '''Mercury(I) nitrate''' is an inorganic compound, a salt of mercury and nitric acid with the formula Hg2(NO3)2.A yellow solid, the compound is used as a precursor to other Hg22+ complexes. The structure of the hydrate has been determined by X-ray crystallography. It consists of a H2O-Hg-Hg-OH22+ center, with a Hg-Hg distance of 254 pm.
Reactions Mercury(I) nitrate is formed when elemental mercury is combined with ''dilute'' nitric acid (concentrated nitric acid will yield mercury(II) nitrate). Mercury(I) nitrate is a reducing agent which is oxidized upon contact with air.Mercuric nitrate reacts with elemental mercury to form mercurous nitrate.Solutions of mercury(I) nitrate are acidic due to slow reaction with water::Hg2(NO3)2 + H2O ⇌ Hg2(NO3)(OH) + HNO3Hg2(NO3)(OH) forms a yellow precipitate.If the solution is boiled or exposed to light, mercury(I) nitrate undergoes a disproportionation reaction yielding elemental mercury and mercury(II) nitrate::Hg2(NO3)2 ⇌ Hg + Hg(NO3)2These reactions are reversible; the nitric acid formed can redissolve the basic salt.
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