Diethylmercury
Diethylmercury
Names
IUPAC name
diethylmercury
Identifiers
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard
100.010.001
EC Number
MeSH
C007378
UNII
InChI=1S/2C2H5.Hg/c2*1-2;/h2*1H2,2H3;
N Key: SPIUPAOJDZNUJH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
N InChI=1/2C2H5.Hg/c2*1-2;/h2*1H2,2H3;/rC4H10Hg/c1-3-5-4-2/h3-4H2,1-2H3
Key: SPIUPAOJDZNUJH-KFYQOLPSAK
Properties
C4 H10 Hg (C2 H5 )2 Hg
Molar mass
258.71 g/mol
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 :
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 , P322 , 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).
Chemical compound
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 hazardous.[ 1]
This chemical can cross the blood–brain barrier , causing permanent brain damage. It is, however, considerably less toxic than dimethylmercury .
Synthesis
Diethylmercury can be obtained from the reaction between ethylmagnesium bromide and mercury(II) chloride .[ 2]
2 C2 H5 MgBr + HgCl2 → Hg(C2 H5 )2 + MgBr2 + MgCl2
Other methods are also known.[ 3]
See also
References