Diphenylmercury Chemical Properties

Melting point:

121-124 °C (lit.)

Boiling point:

>306°C

Density 

2.32 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)

Flash point:

>306°C

storage temp. 

Poison room

Water Solubility 

Insoluble in water.

BRN 

637234

Exposure limits

ACGIH: TWA 0.1 mg/m3 (Skin)
NIOSH: IDLH 10 mg/m3; TWA 0.05 mg/m3; Ceiling 0.1 mg/m3

CAS DataBase Reference

587-85-9(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Substance Registry System

Mercury, diphenyl- (587-85-9)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

T+,N

Risk Statements 

26/27/28-33-50/53

Safety Statements 

13-28-36-45-60-61

RIDADR 

UN 2026 6.1/PG 3

WGK Germany 

3

RTECS 

OW3150000

TSCA 

Yes

HazardClass 

6.1

PackingGroup 

II

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

Diphenylmercury Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

White to beige powder

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by ingestion. Incompatible with nonmetal oxides. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Hg. See also MERCURY COMPOUNDS.

Purification Methods

Sublime it, then crystallise it from nitromethane or ethanol. If phenylmercuric halides are present, they can be converted to phenylmercuric hydroxide which, being much more soluble, remain in the alcohol or *benzene used for crystallisation. Thus, crude material (10g) is dissolved in warm ethanol (ca 150mL) and shaken with moist Ag2O (ca 10g) for 30minutes, then heated under reflux for 30minutes and filtered hot. Concentrating the filtrate by evaporation gives diphenylmercury, which is then recrystallised from *benzene [Blair et al. J Chem Soc 3174 1959]. [Beilstein 16 IV 1702.] TOXIC.

Diphenylmercury(587-85-9)Related Product Information

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