WebElements Periodic Table of the Elements | Mercury

Chemical reactions of the elements

Reaction of mercury with air

Mercury metal reacts in air at about 350°C to form mercury(II) oxide.

2Hg(s) + O₂(g) → 2HgO(s) [red]

Reaction of mercury with water

Mercury does not react with water under normal conditions.

Reaction of mercury with the halogens

Mercury metal reacts with fluorine, F₂, chlorine, Cl₂, bromine, Br₂, or iodine, I₂, to form the dihalides mercury(II) fluoride, HgF₂, mercury(II) chloride, HgCl₂, mercury(II) bromide, HgBr₂, or mercury(II) iodide, HgI₂, respectively.

Hg(l) + F₂(g) → HgF₂(s) [white]

Hg(l) + Cl₂(g) → HgCl₂(s) [white]

Hg(l) + Br₂(l) → HgBr₂(s) [white]

Hg(l) + I₂(s) → HgI₂(s) [red]

Reaction of mercury with acids

Mercury does not react with non-oxidizing acids but does react with concentrated nitric acid, HNO₃, or concentrated sulphuric acid, H₂SO₄, to form mercury(II) compounds together with nitrogen or sulphur oxides.

Mercury dissolves slowly in dilute nitric acid to form mercury(I) nitrate, mercurous nitrate, Hg₂(NO₃)₂.

Reaction of mercury with bases

Mercury does not react with alkalis under normal conditions.

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Mercury	Mercure
Quecksilber	Kwik
Mercurio	Mercurio
Kvicksilver	Mercúrio

Mercury
- Essential data: names, symbol, atomic number, and atomic weight; block, period, and group in periodic table; description; standard state; registry number; and isolation
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Mercury around us
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- Compounds: halides, oxides, sulfides, hydrides, and complexes; lattice energies; and reduction potentials
- Reactions of mercury: reactions of mercury with air; water; halogens; acids; and bases
- Electronegativities: Pauling; Sanderson; Allred Rochow; Mulliken-Jaffe; and Allen
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Ag	Cd	In
Au	Hg	Tl
Rg	Cn	Uut

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