Is mercuric oxide dangerous?
Mercury oxide is a highly toxic substance which can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol, through the skin and by ingestion. The substance is irritating to the eyes, the skin and the respiratory tract and may have effects on the kidneys, resulting in kidney impairment.
What happens when we heat HgO?
Mercuric oxide HgO decomposes to mercury on being heated which condenses on the cool parts of the test tube forming a silver mirror. Hence, we can conclude that a silver mirror is formed on the cooler parts of the test tube and the gas evolved is oxygen.
What does HgO decompose into?
Mercury(II) oxide, a red solid, decomposes when heated to produce mercury and oxygen gas. 2HgO(s)→2Hg(l)+O2(g) [Figure 2] Mercury(II) oxide is a red solid. When it is heated, it decomposes into mercury metal and oxygen gas.
What is the decomposition of mercuric oxide?
Mercury(II) oxide, a red solid, decomposes when heated to produce mercury and oxygen gas. Mercury(II) oxide is a red solid. When it is heated, it decomposes into mercury metal and oxygen gas. A reaction is also considered to be a decomposition reaction even when one or more of the products are still compounds.
What is thermal decomposition in chemistry?
Thermal decomposition is a chemical reaction where heat is a reactant. Since heat is a reactant, these reactions are endothermic meaning that the reaction requires thermal energy to break the chemical bonds in the molecule.
Why do mercuric oxide on heating gives mercury and oxygen?
Since enthalpy is derived from pressure, volume, and internal energy, all of which are state functions, enthalpy is also a state function. Mercuric oxide gives mercury and oxygen on heating. Hence, the heat of formation is the enthalpy change for the formation of one mole of HgO. So the correct answer is B).
Is heating mercuric oxide a chemical change?
Thus, strong heating of mercuric oxide is a permanent change, which cannot be reversed. Furthermore, new products are formed.
At what temperature does HgO decompose?
When the calcination temperature increases from 400 to 600°C, Mg(OH)2 decomposes to MgO from spherical-like to plate-like particles.