Thermal Decomposition of Mercury(II) Oxide

概述

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.

参与者

日常示例

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

工业重要性

虽然该反应已不再工业应用，但它在化学史上具有重要地位，标志着氧气的发现和燃素说的终结。