Mercurous nitrate appears as colourless crystals, is odourless or has slight nitric acid odour, and is soluble in water. It is stable under ordinary conditions of use and storage. Mercurous nitrate is incompatible with ammonia, phosphorus, most common metals, combustible materials, and strong reducing agents, and mercurous nitrate solution is known to corrode metals.
Short prismatic crystals, effloresces and
becomes anhydrous in dry air, sensitive to light.
Soluble in
small quantities of warm water (hydrolyzes in larger
quantities)and water acidified with nitric acid.
May be explosive if shocked or heated.
Highly toxic.
Poison by ingestion and
intraperitoneal routes. Moderately toxic by
skin contact. A powerful oxidizer. Explodes
on contact with red-hot carbon. Mixtures
with phosphorus are impact-sensitive
explosives. When heated to decomposition
it emits very toxic fumes of Hg and NOx.
See also MERCURY COMPOUNDS.
Its solubility in H2O containing 1% HNO3 is 7.7%. Recrystallise it from a warm saturated solution of dilute HNO3 and cool to room temperature slowly to give elongated prisms. Rapid cooling gives plates. The colourless crystals should be stored in the dark. POISONOUS. [Grdenic J Chem Soc 1312 1956.]
