Mercury(II) stearate

Mercury(II) stearate
Names
	Other names Mercuric stearate; Mercury distearate; Mercury dioctadecanoate;
Identifiers
CAS Number	645-99-8 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	62735;
ECHA InfoCard	100.010.418
EC Number	211-458-8;
PubChem CID	69531;
UNII	AZ2X2WK6RN;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	70214758;
	InChI InChI=1S/2C18H36O2.Hg/c21-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18(19)20;/h22-17H2,1H3,(H,19,20);/q;;+2/p-2 Key: RRFMRVBJWLMSAB-UHFFFAOYSA-L;
	SMILES CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)[O-].CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)[O-].[Hg+2];
Properties
Chemical formula	Hg(C18H35O2)2
Molar mass	767.544 g·mol−1
Appearance	yellow wax
Melting point	112.2 °C (234.0 °F; 385.3 K)
Boiling point	359.4 °C (678.9 °F; 632.5 K)
Solubility in water	insoluble
Solubility	Soluble in fatty oils
Hazards
Flash point	162.4 °C (324.3 °F; 435.5 K)
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Mercury(II) stearate is a metal-organic compound, a salt of mercury and stearic acid with the chemical formula Hg(C₁₈H₃₅O₂)₂.^[3] The compound is classified as a metallic soap, i.e. a metal derivative of a fatty acid. The compound is highly toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption.^[2]

Preparation

It is prepared via an exchange reaction of sodium stearate and mercury(II) chloride:

HgCl₂ + 2 NaC₁₈H₃₅O₂ → Hg(C₁₈H₃₅O₂)₂↓ + 2 NaCl

It may also be prepared by heating mercury(I) oxide (Hg₂O) with stearic acid.^[4]

It is used as a germicide^[2] and as a plasticizer in the production of ceramics.

↑ Morris, Christopher G.; Press, Academic; Morris, Christopher W. (27 August 1992). Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology. Gulf Professional Publishing. p. 1350. ISBN 978-0-12-200400-1. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
1 2 3 4 Lewis, Robert A. (1 April 2016). Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary. John Wiley & Sons. p. 878. ISBN 978-1-119-26784-3. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
↑ "CAS 645-99-8 Mercury stearate - Alfa Chemistry". alfa-chemistry.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
↑ Works of the Cavendish Society: Gmelin, Leopold. Hand-book of chemistry. 18 v. & index. 1848-72. 1866. p. 112. Retrieved 15 February 2023.