mercuric oxide

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a slightly crystalline, water-soluble, poisonous compound, HgO, occurring as a coarse, orange-red powder red mercuric oxide or as a fine, orange-yellow powder yellow mercuric oxide: used chiefly as a pigment in paints and as an antiseptic in pharmaceuticals.

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mercuric oxide British  

noun

1. Systematic name: mercury(II) oxide.  a soluble poisonous substance existing in red and yellow powdered forms: used as pigments. Formula: HgO

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Example Sentences

Joseph Priestley first prepared pure oxygen by heating mercuric oxide, HgO:

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Thus, when he found that a candle burned more brightly, and mice thrived, in the atmosphere created with his container of heated mercuric oxide, he thought this atmosphere was "dephlogisticated air."

From Time Magazine Archive

Mercuric sulphide forms the brilliant red pigment, vermilion, and mercuric oxide is becoming increasingly important in anti-fouling marine paint for ship-bottoms.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)

The equation HgO = Hg + O does not tell us that it is necessary to keep the mercuric oxide at a high temperature in order that the decomposition may go on.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William

Which occurs when salt is dissolved in water, milk sours, iron rusts, water boils, iron is magnetized and mercuric oxide is heated above the boiling point of mercury?

From Boy Scouts Handbook The First Edition, 1911 by Boy Scouts of America