Mercury(I) acetate, also known as mercurous acetate, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is a colorless crystalline solid in a form of scales or plates.
Synthesis Mercury(I) acetate is synthesized by reaction between mercury(I) nitrate and sodium acetate in a water solution of nitric acid.
Structure Mercury(I) actetate crystallizes as centrosymmetric dimers, with the molecular connectivity , with Hg-Hg distance of 252.02 pm and Hg-O distance of 215.2 pm. The dimers are connected into infinite ribbons by long, weaker Hg-O bonds (Hg-O distance is 268.02 pm). There are no strong intermolecular forces between the ribbons. Crystals of mercury(I) actetate have a monoclinic unit-cell with the parameters of a = 518 pm, b = 596 pm, c = 1216 pm and β = 100.05°, and contains 2 formula units.
Reactions Mercury(I) actetate decomposes in boiling water and by light to mercury and mercury(II) acetate.
Mercury(I) acetate reacts with bromine and iodine to form mercury(II) acetate bromide and mercury(II) acetate iodide respectively.
Hazards Mercury(I) acetate is a poison. When heated to decomposition, it emits toxic vapors of mercury. Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
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