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Mercuric amidochloride
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Mercuric amidochloride is an inorganic compound with the formula HgNH2Cl. It consists of a zig-zag 1-dimensional polymer (HgNH2)n with chloride counterions.[1][2] It arises from the reaction of ammonia and mercuric chloride. Addition of base converts it into “Millon’s base,” which has the formula [Hg2N]OH(H2O)x. A variety of related amido and nitrido materials with chloride, bromide, and hydroxide are known.[3]
Before the toxicity of mercury was appreciated, mercuric amidochloride, known as “ammoniated mercury”, was used as a topical antiseptic and disinfectant.[4][5]

See also
See also
- Merbromin, also known as “Mercurochrome”, another antiseptic mercury compound
- Thiomersal, another antiseptic mercury compound
References
References
- ↑ Wells, A.F. (1984). Structural Inorganic Chemistry. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-855370-6.Template:Pn
- ↑ Lipscomb, W. N. (1951). “The structure of mercuric amidochloride, HgNH2Cl”. Acta Crystallographica. 4 (3): 266–8. doi:10.1107/S0365110X51000866.
- ↑ Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. (2001). Inorganic Chemistry. San Diego: Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.Template:Pn
- ↑ Aberer W, Gerstner G, Pehamberger H (September 1990). “Ammoniated mercury ointment: outdated but still in use”. Contact Dermatitis. 23 (3): 168–71. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1990.tb04778.x. PMID 2149317.
- ↑ http://www.huidziekten.nl/allergie/stoffen/mercury-ammonium-chloride.htm
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
