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.
Synthesis
Mercury(II) fluoride is most commonly produced by the reaction of
mercury(II) oxide
Mercury(II) oxide, also called mercuric oxide or simply mercury oxide, is the inorganic compound with the formula Hg O. It has a red or orange color. Mercury(II) oxide is a solid at room temperature and pressure. The mineral form montroydite is v ...
and
hydrogen fluoride:
: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
Mercury(II) oxide, also called mercuric oxide or simply mercury oxide, is the inorganic compound with the formula Hg O. It has a red or orange color. Mercury(II) oxide is a solid at room temperature and pressure. The mineral form montroydite is v ...
:
: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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