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

See Examples For:

mercuric chloride

This mercuric chloride is said to form an additive compound with the phosphine of the crude acetylene, which compound is decomposed by the ferric chloride, and the mercuric chloride recovered.

From Acetylene, the Principles of Its Generation and Use A Practical Handbook on the Production, Purification, and Subsequent Treatment of Acetylene for the Development of Light, Heat, and Power by Leeds, F. H. (Frank Henley)

The specific value of mercurous chloride is that it exerts the valuable properties of mercuric chloride in the safest and least irritant manner, as the active salt is continuously and freshly generated in small quantities.

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

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

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

Double salts of cerous chloride with stannic chloride, mercuric chloride, and platinic chloride are also known.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7 "Cerargyrite" to "Charing Cross" by Various