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Product Name: Mercury(II) Chloride
Synonyms: Mercuric Chloride, Bichloride of Mercury, Corrosive Sublimate
CAS Number: 7487-94-7
EC Number: 231-299-8
Recommended Use: Laboratory reagent, chemical manufacturing, preservative
Supplier Details: Contact manufacturer/distributor for local information
Emergency Contact Number: Refer to local facility emergency contact
Classification: Acute Toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation); Acute Environmental Hazard; Chronic Environmental Hazard; Carcinogen Suspected
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Fatal if swallowed, fatal in contact with skin, causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause damage to kidneys through prolonged or repeated exposure, very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Precautionary Statements: Do not breathe dust, avoid contact with eyes, skin, clothing, wear protective clothing, avoid release to the environment, wash hands thoroughly after handling
Chemical: Mercury(II) Chloride
Formula: HgCl2
Molecular Weight: 271.50 g/mol
Concentration: ≥99.5% by mass
Impurities: Trace levels of water, metals, or halides based on supplier information
Inhalation: Remove victim to fresh air, support breathing, seek medical attention immediately, provide oxygen by trained personnel if breathing is difficult
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, flush skin with large volumes of water for at least 15 minutes, seek emergency medical help, decontaminate clothing before reuse
Eye Contact: Rinse with gentle steady stream of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower lids, obtain immediate ophthalmologist attention
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth, never give anything by mouth to unconscious person, seek immediate medical aid
Most Important Symptoms: Severe burning sensation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, kidney damage, neurological symptoms
Advice for Doctor: Treat symptomatically, consider chelation therapy, monitor renal function
Self-Protection: Responders require PPE, including gloves, eye protection, mask
Suitable Extinguishers: Use water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or foam
Hazards: Product does not burn, toxic fumes of mercury and chlorine may be released by thermal decomposition
Firefighting Procedures: Wear SCBA and full protective equipment, isolate hazard area, cool surfaces with water spray, prevent runoff contamination
Explosion Sensitivity: Not sensitive to mechanical impact or static discharge
Specific Hazards: Releases hazardous gases, risk of environmental contamination, contaminated runoff may pollute waterways
Personal Precautions: Evacuate area, avoid dust formation, ventilate area, prevent skin and eye contact, wear chemical-resistant clothing and respiratory protection
Environmental Precautions: Prevent product and dust from entering water courses, storm drains, and soil, alert environmental authorities if contamination occurs
Spill Clean-Up Methods: Vacuum or sweep spill using tools designed for toxic dusts, collect in sealed containers for hazardous waste disposal, avoid raising dust, decontaminate affected area with solution of calcium polysulfide or sulfur powder
Disposal: Handle as toxic waste, refer to Section 13 for proper disposal
Handling: Use only in fume hood or well-ventilated area, avoid generating dust, do not eat, drink, or smoke in work area, wash hands before breaks and after handling, keep container tightly closed, use proper PPE
Storage: Store in original container, keep in cool, dry, well-ventilated location away from incompatible materials (such as ammonia, acetylene, strong bases, powdered metals), protect from moisture and direct sunlight, label containers clearly, restrict access to authorized, trained personnel
Incompatibility: Do not store with reducing agents, organics, metal powders
Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 0.1 mg/m3 (as Mercury), ACGIH TLV: 0.025 mg/m3 (skin, as Mercury)
Engineering Controls: Use in fume hood, utilize exhaust ventilation at source, maintain negative airflow, regularly monitor airborne concentrations, use sealed systems for process operations
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, neoprene), full-body lab coat or chemical apron, safety goggles and face shield, approved respirators during dust formation or cleaning (NIOSH-certified), footwear closed and chemical-resistant
Hygiene Measures: Remove contaminated clothing, wash exposed skin with soap and water, prohibit eating and drinking in areas where chemical is used, provide eye-wash stations and safety showers
Appearance: White crystalline powder, odorless
Melting Point: 276°C
Boiling Point: Sublimes at 302°C (decomposes)
Density: 5.43 g/cm3
Solubility: Soluble in water (7% at 20°C), soluble in alcohol, slightly soluble in ether
Vapor Pressure: <1 mmHg at 20°C
pH: Acidic in solution
Partition Coefficient: log Kow -0.13 (poorly bioaccumulative)
Chemical Stability: Stable at ambient temperature and pressure in dry air and sealed containers
Decomposition: Releases toxic mercury vapors and chlorine gases at elevated temperatures or contact with hot surfaces
Reactivity: Reacts violently with ammonium compounds, strong reducing agents, organic materials, powdered metals
Polymerization: Will not occur
Incompatible Materials: Many metals, alkali, ammonia, acetylene, bases, sulfur compounds
Hazardous Products: Mercury vapor, hydrogen chloride, chlorine gas
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact, ocular absorption
Acute Toxicity: Extremely toxic, LD50 (oral, rat): 1 mg/kg, LD50 (dermal, rabbit): 41 mg/kg
Chronic Effects: Kidney damage, neurological impairment, tremors, memory loss, personality changes, gingivitis, birth defects
Symptoms: Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, ulceration, convulsions, difficulty breathing, coma
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogen by IARC, EPA, NTP
Mutagenicity, Teratogenicity: Evidence suggests reproductive and developmental toxicity
Sensitization: Not regarded as skin sensitizer
Aquatic Toxicity: Very toxic to aquatic life (LC50 fish 0.16 mg/L/96h), heavily bioaccumulative in aquatic organisms, persistent in sediment
Mobility: Moderately mobile in soil, can leach to groundwater depending on environmental conditions
Biodegradability: Not readily biodegradable, mercury compounds accumulate in the environment
Partitioning: Presence in soil, water, and air can persist and affect non-target species
Long-term Effects: Toxic to soil microbes, plant growth, and higher-order consumers such as birds and mammals, potential for biomagnification
Precautions: Avoid spills or release, implement strict controls on effluent and waste
Disposal Methods: Must be managed as hazardous waste according to federal, state, and local regulations, must not enter drains, surface water, or general trash
Recommended Practices: Collect all residues in accurately labeled, sealed containers, hand over to licensed hazardous waste contractor
Contaminated Packaging: Decontaminate or dispose of using same methods as product waste, never reuse for other purposes
Legal Requirements: Comply with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and equivalent regulations outside the US
UN Number: 1624
Proper Shipping Name: Mercury(II) Chloride
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic Substance)
Packing Group: I (high danger)
Marine Pollutant: Yes
Regulations: Transported under ADR/RID, IMDG, IATA, DOT codes; additional safety labels and documentation required
Special Precautions: Ensure secondary containment, risk of dust generation, temperature control during transport
Labelling Requirements: Hazard pictograms for health hazard, environmental toxin, corrosive, skull and crossbones
US Regulations: Listed in TSCA, subject to CERCLA (reportable quantity: 10 lbs), RCRA hazardous waste U.Hg, SARA Title III Section 313 reporting required
Canadian Regulations: Listed in DSL/NDSL, controlled under WHMIS Class D1A, D1B, E
Europe: Covered under REACH, requires risk assessment and record-keeping for use, restrictions on marketing and use
Australia: Classified as hazardous, listed on AICS
Other: Always refer to local, state, and national authorities for current information and compliance requirements
