Asked by Moi

How would you write the chemical formula for Mercury(I) nitrate.


I have Hg(NO3)2 since the charge of nitrate is -1 and Mercury's is 1.

However, upon checking online i found that the correct formula is Hg2(No3)2.

Given that the charge for mercury in this case is 1 and nitrate is -1 then where do the subscripts "2" come from?
Thanks
Answered by Moi
woops, i meant that i have " Hg(NO3) since the charge of nitrate is -1 and Mercury's is 1." the rest of my question remains the same
Answered by DrBob222
I responded to your post this morning but I didn't explain why. The answer is that HgNO3 dimerizes (two molecules combine to form a single molecule) of Hg2(NO3)2. How does it do that? By forming a Hg-Hg bond.
NO3-Hg-Hg-NO3. When I was in college taking freshman chemistry the prof told us that HgCl really was Hg2Cl2 and that HgNO3 really was Hg2(NO3)2 (and he counted HgCl and HgNO3 wrong) BUT no one knew how it was hooked. The speculation was that it formed a Hg-Hg bond. Later that has been show to be so.
Answered by Moi
Thanks so much, its much clearer now:)
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