How would you write the chemical formula for Mercury(I) nitrate.
i have Hg(NO3)2 since the charge of nitrate is -2 and Mercury's is 1.
However, upon checking online i found that the correct formula is Hg2(No3)2. I don't understand where the subscript 2 of Hg originated from'
Thanks
YOUR RIGHT,the charge of nitrate is -1, my mistake. But I still don't understand how to figure out the formula for Mercury(I) nitrate. Given that the charge for mercury in this case is -1 and nitrate is -1 also then where do the subscripts "2" come from, [given that the correct formula is Hg2(NO3)2]
You are absolutely correct on one count and not quite right on the second. Hg occurs both as Hg(I) and Hg(II) but nitrate is -1, not -2 We NORMALLY use the smallest set of subscripts but in the case of Hg(I) compounds, most of them are dimeric. Hg2Cl2, Hg2(NO3)2, etc. Note that there also is a mercury(II) nitrate; i.e., Hg(NO3)2. Therefore, although the empirical formula for mercury(I) nitrate is HgNO3, the molecular formula is Hg2(NO3)2 anf I was always encouraged to write the molecular formula instead of the empirical formula.
my question
1.Does it mean my mercurous nitrate has expired if the color and appearance changes from white or colorless crystals to yellowish watery caked.
2
the product above when prepared and titrated against a solution of iron thiocynate forms a precipitate which at it original state will turn the bloody color of thye iron thiocynate to colourles. why it is it so
To write the correct chemical formula for Mercury(I) nitrate, we need to consider the charges of the ions involved.
Mercury(I) refers to the mercury cation with a charge of +1, represented by Hg+. Nitrate, on the other hand, is an anion with a charge of -1, represented by NO3-.
To balance the charges and create a neutral compound, we need two mercury cations (Hg+) to combine with two nitrate anions (NO3-). So, we write Hg2(NO3)2.
The subscript 2 in Hg2 represents the presence of two mercury cations in the compound, as we need two of them to neutralize the charges. It indicates that there are two Hg+ ions in the formula.
In summary, the correct chemical formula for Mercury(I) nitrate is Hg2(NO3)2.