![]() Sometimes the symptoms of its toxicity were confused with those of the syphilis it was believed to treat. The problem with this was that mercury(II) chloride is very toxic. Together with other mercury compounds, Mercury(II) chloride (also known as mercuric chloride or corrosive sublimate) was used to treat syphilis. Mercury(I) chloride (also known as calomel or mercurous chloride) has been used as a diuretic, skin disinfectant, and laxative. It has been banned in some countries like the US. Merbromin, another organic mercury compound, is used as an antiseptic. An organic mercury compound called thiomersal is used to preserve vaccines. They are an amalgam of mercury with another element. Mercury has been used in dental fillings until it was replaced with safer materials. ![]() This process keeps repeating until a large amount of aluminium is dissolved. The aluminium oxide forms a solid and releases the mercury, which amalgamates more aluminium. Then the aluminium metal is dissolved and oxidizes to aluminium oxide. The thin layer of oxide on aluminium stops it from amalgamating (making an amalgam with) aluminium, but the oxide coating can be damaged to expose the metal. Mercury can dissolve large amounts of aluminium metal, making it dangerous to transport in aluminium containers. Iron flasks were used to trade mercury because of this. Iron, tantalum, tungsten, and platinum do not make amalgams with mercury. It can make amalgams when mixed with most metals, like aluminium, gold, and zinc. It does not dissolve in ordinary acids, but can dissolve in oxidizing acids to make mercury salts. ![]() If it is heated further, it decomposes into mercury and oxygen again. Mercury can oxidize to mercury(II) oxide when heated in air. It does not corrode in air unless hydrogen sulfide is also there, similar to silver.
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