Question

What is mercuric chloride used for?

Answer 1

1. Mercuric chloride $\left({\mathrm{HgCl}}_2\right)$is a chemical compound also known as mercury dichloride or mercury (ll) dichloride.
2. Mercuric chloride can be formed when a hot concentrated nitrate solution of mercury is treated with hydrochloric acid. $$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{HgNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+2\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{HgCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{NO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{Mercuric}\mathrm{Nitrate}\mathrm{Mercuric}\mathrm{Chloride}\mathrm{Nitrogen}\mathrm{dioxide} \end{gathered}$$
3. Mercuric chloride is used in species conservation.
4. It can be used in tanning the leather.
5. Mercuric chloride is used as a reagent in analytical chemistry and also used as an insecticide and antiseptic.
6. Mercuric chloride can also be used as an ant repellent.
7. Apart from all these uses mercuric chloride can be hazardous for health as its high dosage can be lethal and affect the Renal system and Gastrointestinal tract.