Reaction of Aluminum and Mercury (II) Chloride
Description: A portion of liquid Mercury (II) Chloride is painted onto a sheet of Aluminum foil. The reaction causes the aluminum to oxidize, and heat is generated.
2Al(s) + 3HgCl2(aq) → 2AlCl3(aq) + 3Hg(s)
2Hg(s) + O2(s) → 2HgO(s)
Source: UW Card Catalog
Year: N/A Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Spontaneous, Oxidation, Mercury, Amalgam, Exothermic
Rating: 
Hazard: Some
- Acute toxicity – oral
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Serious eye damage
- Germ cell mutagenicity
- Reproductive toxicity
- Specific target organ toxicity- CNS
- Short-term (aquatic) hazard
- Long-term (chronic) hazard
- Flammable solids
- Substances and mixtures which in contact with water emit flammable gases
- Electric shock hazard
Effectiveness: Average
- Hard to see or perceive results
- Time to results is medium
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Contrast of systems behavior is low
- Good reliability
- Secondary effects
Difficulty: Low
- Simple procedures
- Simple manipulations for most to perform
- Demos do not involve deep attention
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Thermal gloves recommended
- Use UL approved three-prong plug and outlet
Class: Transition Metals, Groups IA, IIA, IIIb (1, 2, and 13) Redox Reactions, Thermochemistry
Division: Inorganic Chemistry, General Chemistry
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