mercuric chloride

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mercuric chloride¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

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

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

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The supporters of the formula Hg2Cl2 pointed out that dissociation into mercury and mercuric chloride would give this value, since mercury is a monatomic element.

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

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

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