Water-mercury affinity

Data on the standard potentials for inorganic redox systems in aqueous solutions have been compiled by IUPAC [1], The standard potentials for some M"+/M and Mn+/M(Hg) couples are shown in Table 4.1 [2]. For alkali metals, the standard potentials of M+/M(Hg) are about IV more positive than those of M+/M. This is because alkali metals have strong affinities to mercury and are stable in the amalgams. It is impossible to measure the potentials of alkali metal electrodes directly in aqueous solutions, because alkali metals react with water. In order to determine the potential of an alkali metal electrode in an aqueous solution, we measure the potential of the corresponding amalgam electrode in an aqueous solution and then the difference between the potentials of alkali metal and alkali metal amalgam electrodes using an appropriate non-aqueous solution [2].2 ... 

The sensor is based on high affinity of gold to mercury and on chemo-resistive properties of ultrathin gold layers adsorption of mercury leads to increase in the surface resistance [1,2]. However, this effect is not selective similar changes are caused by adsorption of water vapor and sulfuric compounds. The use of monomolecular layer of alkylthiols as a filter excludes this interference completely [3]. Sensor calibration is performed by thermoinjection of nanogram-amount of mercury quantitatively deposited by electrochemical reduction [4],... 

See how wonderfully this all works out in Hermetic Philosophy. In the confection of the Stone, Saturn stands for the cold, moist principle, inhering in the Mercurial Water, whereas Jupiter is the warm, dry principle or the Sulphur. Throughout the work, we see first one of these principles triumphing, then the other, exactly as in human life for after all, man himself is but a more unfolded example of the Stone. He is the Macrocosm of which the Stone is the Microcosm, and the parallelism between the two is marvellous. That is why the Stone has so great an affinity for man and becomes the panacea for all his ills. Those who desire to unfold this treasure must voluntarily fulfill all conditions to the mastery thereof. 

It may be somewhat surprising that the shorter fatty polar compounds effectively make the mercury water-repellent whereas the longer ones do not. The situation can be pictured, however, as one in which the relative affinities of bulk water and fatty monolayer for the mercury surface determines which substance displaced the other. Among the polar fatty compounds 7re, at any given temperature, can be taken as an index of affinity between the spread material and the mercury. On this basis the Ci2-Ci4 compounds in Table II have greater affinity for mercury... 

Thio- and selenoacetals and esters are excellent substrates for mild Friedel-Crafts reactions, because of the affinity of sulfur and selenium for copper (Sch. 23). Anisole was readily acylated with methylselenoesters 94 at room temperature with activation by CuOTf to affordpnra-substituted (> 95 %) derivatives 95 [50,51]. Mercury(II) and copper(II) salts, which were effective for the activation of selenyl esters for reaction with alcohols, amines, and water, were not effective for the Friedel-Crafts reaction. Aromatic heterocycles 96 could be acylated in high yields, and the alkylation product 100 was obtained from dibutylthioacetal 99 and anisole. Vedejs has utilized this methodology in the cyclization of 101 to afford 102 in 77 % yield [52]. This intramolecular variant did not require the use of the more reactive bis copper triflate-benzene complex. 

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