I recently created HgSO4 in excess Sulfuric acid. I want to isolate the Mercury sulfate so I decanted the Sulfuric acid as best I can, but I want to
remove the rest of it. I know that HgSO4 in water, so I cant wash the salt with that. Is there any anhydrous organic solvent I could use to remove the
acid?
ps. I know how toxic mercury salts are and I am taking full precautions to avoid exposure. Töilet Plünger - 1-4-2014 at 17:45
Is there a reason why you can't just rehydrate and boil down the solution?blargish - 1-4-2014 at 18:27
Is there a reason why you can't just rehydrate and boil down the solution?
HgSO4 decomposes in water into sulfuric acid and some other compound that I am not sure of. (According to wikipedia, mercuric subsulfate)Steam - 1-4-2014 at 19:40
Yes, So what I did was I washed it with acetone. Sulfuric acid forms some sort of milky white liquid with Acetone in heavy excess. Possibly oxidizes
it? I simply kept washing the salt till the acetone wouldn't react with the residual H2SO4.
Nota Bene- I Tried placing some acetone into an excess of Sulfuric acid. What happened was over the course of 2 minutes the 98% sulfuric acid began to
turn red, and the solution became hot. Very hot. Because I didn't want a run-away I diluted the mixture and poured it away.
Any thoughts of what the reaction of H2SO4 and Acetone produces?Etaoin Shrdlu - 1-4-2014 at 19:49
