Mercury(II) fluoride has the molecular formula HgF
2 as a
chemical compound
A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element ...
of one atom of mercury with 2 atoms of
fluorine
Fluorine is a chemical element with the symbol F and atomic number 9. It is the lightest halogen and exists at standard conditions as a highly toxic, pale yellow diatomic gas. As the most electronegative reactive element, it is extremely reacti ...
.
Synthesis
Mercury(II) fluoride is most commonly produced by the reaction of
mercury(II) oxide and
hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen fluoride (fluorane) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . This colorless gas or liquid is the principal industrial source of fluorine, often as an aqueous solution called hydrofluoric acid. It is an important feedstock i ...
:
:HgO + 2 HF → HgF
2 + H
2O
Mercury(II) fluoride can also be produced through the
fluorination
In chemistry, halogenation is a chemical reaction that entails the introduction of one or more halogens into a compound. Halide-containing compounds are pervasive, making this type of transformation important, e.g. in the production of polymers, ...
of
mercury(II) chloride
Mercury(II) chloride (or mercury bichloride, mercury dichloride), historically also known as sulema or corrosive sublimate, is the inorganic chemical compound of mercury and chlorine with the formula HgCl2. It is white crystalline solid and is ...
:
:HgCl
2 + F
2 → HgF
2 + Cl
2
or of
mercury(II) oxide:
:2 HgO + 2 F
2 → 2 HgF
2 + O
2
with oxygen as byproduct.
Applications
Mercury(II) fluoride is a selective fluorination agent.
References
Fluorides
Mercury(II) compounds
Metal halides
Fluorinating agents
Fluorite crystal structure
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