Page 28 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

Reactions with mercury
Mercury is one of the noble metals and thus is relatively unreactive. It will not react with either hydrochloric or sulphuric acid. However, fuming nitric acid,
which is an extremely corrosive oxidising agent, will react violently with mercury.
Mercuric compounds will react more readily than pure mercury, as shown in the example at the top of page 29.
 Fuming nitric acid is added to a small amount of mercury (the shiny metal at the bottom of the beaker). This reaction produces mercuric nitrate and releases brown nitrogen dioxide.
EQUATION: Mercury and nitric acid
Mercury + nitric acid ➪ mercuric nitrate + nitrogen dioxide + water Hg(l) + 4HNO3(l) ➪ Hg(NO3)2(aq) + 2NO2(g) + 2H2O(l)
 The violent reaction occurs. Notice that this is an exothermic reaction, giving out considerable amounts of heat.
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