Mercuric oxide

Synonyms

C.I. 77760; CI 77760; Gelbes quecksilberoxyd; Hydrargyrum oxid flav; Hydrargyrum oxydatum rubrum; Mercuric Oxide, Yellow; Mercuric oxide (HgO); Mercuric oxide, red; Mercury monoxide; Mercury oxide; Mercury oxide (HgO); Mercury(2+) oxide; Mercury(II) oxide; Natural montroydite; Oxide mercurique jaune; Oxido amarillo de mercurio; Oxyde de mercure [French]; Oxyde mercurique [ISO-French]; Red Precipitate; Red mercuric oxide; Red oxide of mercury; Santar; Santar M; Yellow mercuric oxide; Yellow oxide of mercury; Yellow precipitate; [ChemIDplus] Mercury(II) oxide red; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS] UN1641

Category

Mercury Compounds, Inorganic

Description

Yellow, orange-yellow, or red crystals; Insoluble in water; [ICSC] Powder; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS]

Sources/Uses

Yellow mercuric oxide: Used to make organic mercurials, as a catalyst, and in chemical analysis; Red mercuric oxide: Used in marine and porcelain paints, dry batteries, as a chemical reagent, and catalyst; Both are used as topical antiseptics; [Merck Index] Used as a pigment, glass modifier, chemical intermediate, and cosmetics preservative; Yellow mercuric oxide is also used as a fungicide paste for treating fruit and rubber trees; [HSDB]

Comments

A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; Toxic to the kidneys; [ICSC] Toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption; [CAMEO] Decomposed by light into mercury and oxygen; [Merck Index] Highly toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption; May cause liver and kidney injury; Teratogenic effects and reproductive toxicity observed in experimental animals; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS] See "Mercury, inorganic compounds" and the linked occupational disease.

Biomedical References

Yes

0.025 mg/m3, as Hg

0.1 mg/m3, as Hg

0.02 mg/m3, as Hg, inhalable fraction

10 mg/m3, as Hg

Sensorimotor

Yes

Not Classifiable

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Battery Manufacturing
• Farming (Pesticides)
• Painting (Pigments, Binders, and Biocides)
• Using Disinfectants or Biocides