Mercuric chloride
Agent Name
Mercuric chloride
CAS Number
7487-94-7
Formula
Hg-Cl2
Major Category
Metals
Synonyms
Abavit B; Bichloride of mercury; Bichlorure de mercure [French]; Calo-Clor; Calochlor; Calocure; Chlorid rtutnaty [Czech] Chlorure mercurique [French]; Chlorure mercurique [ISO-French]; Cloruro di mercurio [Italian]; Corrosive mercury chloride; Corrosive sublimate; Dichloromercury; Fungchex; Hydraargyrum bichloratum; Mercuric bichloride; Mercury bichloride; Mercury chloride (HgCl2) Mercury dichloride; Mercury perchloride; Mercury(2+) chloride; Mercury(II) chloride; Perchloride of mercury; Quecksilber chlorid [German]; Sublimat [Czech]; Sublimate; Sulem; Sulema [Russian]; UN1624; [ChemIDplus]
Category
Mercury Compounds, Inorganic
Description
White solid; [CHRIS]
Sources/Uses
Used as an antiseptic, disinfectant, veterinarian medication, and dry battery electrolyte; Used to stain and preserve wood, embalm tissues, develop photos, print fabrics, tan leather, treat furs, electroplate aluminum, etch steel, and separate gold from lead; Used in the past as an insecticide/fungicide and a catalyst to produce vinyl chloride; [HSDB] Used in photography (platinum toner and intensifier); [www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/medium.html]
Comments
Corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Highly toxic by ingestion; Lethal dose for inorganic mercury salts is about 1 gram; A skin and eye irritant; [CHEMINFO MSDS] May cause skin sensitization; [ICSC] See "Mercury, inorganic compounds" and the linked diseases.
Biomedical References
Exposure Assessment
Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Yes
TLV (ACGIH)
0.025 mg/m3, as Hg
PEL (OSHA)
0.1 mg/m3, as Hg
MAK
0.02 mg/m3, as Hg, inhalable fraction
IDLH (NIOSH)
10 mg/m3, as Hg
Lethal Concentration
LCLo (mice) = 300 mg/m3/10 min
Explanatory Notes
VP = 1 mm Hg @ 136.2 degrees C; [HSDB] Exposure values are for "Mercury, inorganic compounds, as Hg."
Adverse Effects
Skin Sensitizer
Yes
Neurotoxin
Sensorimotor
Nephrotoxin
Yes
Reproductive Toxin
Yes
Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: