Mercury oxide decomposition

Although red mercuric oxide usually vigorously decomposes hydrogen peroxide, the presence of traces of nitric acid inhibits decomposition and promotes formation of red mercury(II) peroxide. This explodes on impact or friction, even when wet, if the mercury oxide was finely divided. 

To a vigorously stirred suspension of 40 gm (0.138 mole) of mercuric oxide in 100 ml of water is added slowly 15 gm (0.134 mole) of A-ethyl-A -isobutyl-hydrazine. After the addition has been completed, stirring is continued for an additional hr at room temperature. The mercury and mercury oxides are then removed by filtration. The precipitate is washed with ether and the aqueous phase is extracted with ether. The ether solutions are combined and dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate. Then the ether is distilled off. The residue is distilled at 105°-107°C (741 mm Hg) yield 5.8 gm (40%). On redistillation, an appreciable quantity of a high-boiling residue is left behind, possibly because of thermal decomposition. 

Cvetanovic67 was concerned with oxygen atom reactions with unsaturated hydrocarbons. The oxygen atoms were obtained in his experiments by mercury-photosensitized decomposition of N20. Cvetanovi6 came to the conclusion that the reaction of oxygen atoms with ethylene proceeded essentially with scission of the hydrocarbon bond, while with higher olefins this was not observed. Corresponding oxides (epoxides) and carbonyl compounds were formed in the course of the reaction. 

Fourcroy prepared a fulminating mercury by digesting red oxide of mercury in ammonia water for 8 or 10 days. The material became white and finally assumed the form of crystalline scales. The dried product exploded loudly from fire, but underwent a spontaneous decomposition when left to itself. At slightly elevated temperatures it gave off ammonia and left a residue of mercury oxide. 

Before mercury-photosensitized decomposition of nitrous oxide could be used as a technique for generation of oxygen atoms, it was necessary to establish unambiguously the primary step in this reaction. Early investigation (70) could not distinguish with certainty between the two possible primary steps... 

Fig. 21. Yield of oxime as a function of the nitric oxide concentration in the mercury-photosensitized decomposition of various propanes. O—C3H3 S—C3Da C —CH CD2CH3 -CDaCH-CIU...

Fig. 22. The yield of w-propyl radicals from the mercury-photosensitized decomposition of various propanes as a function of nitric oxide concentration. O—CjH8 ...

O2, ethanol + iodine + mercury oxide (at 35°C), CIO2, crotonaldehyde (above 180°C), buten-3-yne (with heat and pressure). Reaction with sodium nitrite forms a spontaneously flammable product. Exothermic reaction with boron trifluoride etherate + phenol. To fight fire, stop flow of gas. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes. 

Suppose now that mercury oxide dissociates in an enclosure which is at first a vacuum, and that the mercury resulting from this decomposition ranains entirely in a state of vapor it will follow necessarily, denoting by the partial pressure of oxygen in this case, that... 

Zinc, cadmium and mercury oxides The decomposition of zinc oxide was studied [45] thermogravimetrically, using sintered material and on (0001) and (1010) crystal faces. Evaporation results in the development of characteristic structures for the different crystallographic surfaces, including a remarkable anisotropy on faces... 

The reverse of combination is decomposition, AB->A+B. The thermal decomposition of mercury oxide,... 

Lavoisier clarified these facts through the synthesis and the decomposition of mercury oxide. Fie discovered the Law of Conservation of Mass and the Oxidization Theory. With these discoveries, the long era of alchemy and Phlogiston Theory was laid to rest and chemistry came forward as a leading scientific discipline. 

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