mercuric chloride

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble, strongly acrid, highly poisonous solid, HgCl 2 , prepared by sublimation of chlorine with mercury, and used chiefly as an antiseptic.

mercuric chloride

noun

1. a white poisonous soluble crystalline substance used as a pesticide, antiseptic, and preservative for wood. Formula: HgCl 2 Systematic namemercury(II) chloride Also calledbichloride of mercurycorrosive sublimate

Word History and Origins

Origin of mercuric chloride¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Then add a few drops of solution of mercuric chloride; the surface of the mercury will become level, read and record its new position.

From Project Gutenberg

Double salts of cerous chloride with stannic chloride, mercuric chloride, and platinic chloride are also known.

From Project Gutenberg

The supporters of the formula Hg2Cl2 pointed out that dissociation into mercury and mercuric chloride would give this value, since mercury is a monatomic element.

From Project Gutenberg

In all these cases of partial decomposition some of the mercurous chloride—the calomel—is changed into soluble mercuric chloride and metallic mercury.

From Project Gutenberg

It is true that mercuric chloride is very effective, but I cannot think of a single modern reason to use it.

From Project Gutenberg