mercuric chloride

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble, strongly acrid, highly poisonous solid, HgCl 2 , prepared by sublimation of chlorine with mercury, and used chiefly as an antiseptic.

---

mercuric chloride British  

noun

1. Also called: bichloride of mercury.   corrosive sublimate.  Systematic name: mercury(II) chloride.  a white poisonous soluble crystalline substance used as a pesticide, antiseptic, and preservative for wood. Formula: HgCl 2

---

Etymology

Origin of mercuric chloride

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mercuric chloride

Examine cinnabar, vermilion, mercury, red oxide, mercurous and mercuric chloride.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips

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

From The History of the Medical Department of Transylvania University by Peter, Robert

The mercuric chloride, being readily volatile, vaporizes and is condensed again in cool vessels.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William

Bichloride of mercury, mercuric chloride; Ð sometimes called corrosive sublimate.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

The latter object is accomplished by oxidation to stannic chloride by means of mercuric chloride added in excess, as the mercuric salts have no effect upon ferrous iron or the bichromate.

From An Introductory Course of Quantitative Chemical Analysis With Explanatory Notes by Talbot, Henry P.