mercurous chloride

American

noun

Pharmacology.

calomel.

mercurous chloride British

noun

Systematic name: mercury(I) chloride. Also called: calomel. a white tasteless insoluble powder used as a fungicide and formerly as a medical antiseptic, cathartic, and diuretic. Formula: Hg 2 Cl 2

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mercurous chloride

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If "mercurous chloride," "calomel," "mercuric," "mercurio" or "mercury" is listed on the label, stop using the product immediately.

From US News

The molecular weight of mercurous chloride has given occasion for much discussion.

From Project Gutenberg

In all these cases of partial decomposition some of the mercurous chloride—the calomel—is changed into soluble mercuric chloride and metallic mercury.

From Project Gutenberg

Minor sources include the black or gray sulphide, metacinnabar, the native metal, and the white mercurous chloride, calomel.

From Project Gutenberg

How could you distinguish between mercurous chloride and mercuric chloride?

From Project Gutenberg

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