Thermal Decomposition of Mercury(II) Oxide

概要

Mercury(II) oxide decomposes when heated to about 500 C into mercury metal and oxygen gas. This reaction is historically significant as it was used by Joseph Priestley in 1774 to discover oxygen. The red powder turns into shiny mercury droplets when heated.

参加者

日常の例

This reaction is primarily of historical significance, demonstrating a fundamental chemical principle in the discovery of oxygen.

産業上の重要性

工業的にはもう使用されないが、この反応は近代化学の発展と元素・化合物の理解に極めて重要であった。