Mercuric nitrate appears as a white crystalline solid. Toxic by inhalation, ingestion and/or skin contact. Prolonged exposure to fire or heat may result in an explosion. Produces toxic oxides of nitrogen when heated to decomposition. Used to make other chemicals and in medicine.
Incompatible with reducing agents, cyanides, thiocyanates, isothiocyanates and hypophosphites.
Mercury(II) nitrate is used as an oxidizing agent involved in organic synthesis. Its reaction with acetone yielded an organometallic compound containing mercury. In addition, it serves as a nitrification agent and analytical reagents used in the laboratory. It is involved in the preparation of mercury fulminate.