Wikiwand AI

Diethylmercury

Chemical compound From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Diethylmercury is a flammable, colorless liquid, and one of the strongest known neurotoxins. This organomercury compound is described as having a slightly sweet smell, though inhaling enough fumes to notice this would be deadly.[1] This chemical can cross the blood–brain barrier, causing permanent brain damage. It is, however, considerably less toxic than dimethylmercury.

Quick facts Names, Identifiers ...
Diethylmercury
Names
IUPAC name
diethylmercury
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
Abbreviations DEM
Et2Hg
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.010.001 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 211-000-7
MeSH C007378
UNII
  • InChI=1S/2C2H5.Hg/c2*1-2;/h2*1H2,2H3; X markN
    Key: SPIUPAOJDZNUJH-UHFFFAOYSA-N X markN
  • InChI=1/2C2H5.Hg/c2*1-2;/h2*1H2,2H3;/rC4H10Hg/c1-3-5-4-2/h3-4H2,1-2H3
    Key: SPIUPAOJDZNUJH-KFYQOLPSAK
  • CC[Hg]CC
Properties
C4H10Hg
(C2H5)2Hg
Molar mass 258.716 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless liquid
Odor Sweet
Density 2.446 g/ml
Melting point −45 °C (−49 °F; 228 K)
Boiling point 156 to 157 °C (313 to 315 °F; 429 to 430 K)
Insoluble
Solubility Ethers, hydrocarbons, THF
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
Flammable, extremely toxic
GHS labelling:
GHS06: ToxicGHS08: Health hazardGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
H225, H300+H310+H330, H373, H410
P260, P262, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P284, P301+P310, P302+P350, P304+P340, P310, P314, P320, P321, P330, P361, P363, P391, P403+P233, P405, P501
Flash point N/A
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
X markN verify (what is checkYX markN ?)
Close

The resulting (CH3CH2)2Hg is a dense liquid (2.466 g/cm3) that boils at 58 °C at 16 torr. This extremely toxic compound is slightly soluble in ethanol and soluble in ether.

Synthesis

Diethylmercury can be obtained from the reaction between ethylmagnesium bromide and mercury(II) chloride.[2]

2 C2H5MgBr + HgCl2 → Hg(C2H5)2 + MgBr2 + MgCl2

Other methods are also known.[3]

See also

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks