Chemical compound
Mercury(II) bromide or mercuric bromide is an inorganic compound with the formula HgBr2.[2] This white solid is a laboratory reagent.[3] [2] Like all mercury salts, it is highly toxic.[2]
Preparation
Mercury(II) bromide can be produced by reaction of metallic mercury with bromine.[4]
Reactions
Mercury(II) bromide is used as a reagent in the Koenigs–Knorr reaction, which forms glycoside linkages on carbohydrates.[5][6]
It is also used to test for the presence of arsenic, as recommended by the European Pharmacopoeia.[7]The arsenic in the sample is first converted to arsine gas by treatment with hydrogen. Arsine reacts with mercury(II) bromide:[8]
- AsH3 + 3HgBr2 → As(HgBr)3 + 3HBr
The white mercury(II) bromide will turn yellow, brown, or black if arsenic is present in the sample.[9]
Mercury(II) bromide reacts violently with elemental indium at high temperatures[10]and, when exposed to potassium, can form shock-sensitive explosive mixtures.[11]
References
- ^ "Mercuric bromide". PubChem. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ a b c PubChem. "Mercury bromide (Hg2Br2)". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ Elements, American. "Mercury Bromide". American Elements. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ F. Wagenknecht; R. Juza (1963). "Mercury(II) bromide". In G. Brauer (ed.). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Vol. 2. NY, NY: Academic Press. p. 1109.
- ^ Horton, Derek (2004), Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry, Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic Press, p. 76, ISBN 0-12-007259-9, retrieved 2008-05-29
- ^ Stick, Robert V. (2001), Carbohydrates: The Sweet Molecules of Life, San Diego: Academic Press, p. 125, ISBN 0-12-670960-2, retrieved 2008-05-29
- ^ Pederson, Ole (2006), Pharmaceutical Chemical Analysis, Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, p. 107, ISBN 0-8493-1978-1, retrieved 2008-05-29
- ^ Odegaard, Nancy; Sadongei, Alyce (2005), Old Poisons, New Problems, Rowman Altamira, p. 58, ISBN 0-7591-0515-4, retrieved 2008-05-29
- ^ Townsend, Timothy G.; Solo-Gabriele, Helena (2006), Environmental Impacts of Treated Wood, Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, p. 339, ISBN 0-8493-6495-7, retrieved 2008-05-29
- ^ Bretherick, L.; Urben, P. G.; Pitt, Martin John (1999), Bretherick's Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards, Elsevier Academic Press, p. 110, ISBN 0-7506-3605-X
- ^ Bretherick, L.; Urben, P. G.; Pitt, Martin John (1999), Bretherick's Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards, Elsevier Academic Press, p. 1276, ISBN 0-7506-3605-X
