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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of mercuric chloride

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Similarly a batch of three horse-chestnut leaf-stalks was put in water, another batch in chloroform-water, and a third batch in mercuric chloride solution.

From Response in the Living and Non-Living by Bose, Jagadis Chandra, Sir

Proceed with the solution of the ore, treat the residue, if necessary, and reduce the iron by the addition of stannous chloride, followed by mercuric chloride, as described for the bichromate process on page 56.

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

Long continued boiling with water gives mercury and mercuric chloride; dilute hydrochloric acid or solutions of alkaline chlorides convert it into mercuric chloride on long boiling.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 1 "Calhoun" to "Camoens" by Various

It is true that mercuric chloride is very effective, but I cannot think of a single modern reason to use it.

From Practical Taxidermy A manual of instruction to the amateur in collecting, preserving, and setting up natural history specimens of all kinds. To which is added a chapter upon the pictorial arrangement of museums. With additional instructions in modelling and artistic taxidermy. by Browne, Montagu

Then add a few drops of solution of mercuric chloride; the surface of the mercury will become level, read and record its new position.

From The Methods of Glass Blowing and of Working Silica in the Oxy-Gas Flame For the use of chemical and physical students by Shenstone, W. A.