Dimethylmercury facts for kids
Dimethylmercury, sometimes called dimethyl mercury, is a chemical compound. It contains methyl and mercury ions. Its chemical formula is (CH3)2Hg.
Contents
Properties
It is a colorless liquid. It evaporates very fast. It is a very strong toxin to the nervous system. It doesn't react with water like other similar chemicals. It contains mercury in its +2 oxidation state. It can react with mercury(II) chloride to make a crystalline chemical compound.
Production
It is made by reacting a sodium amalgam with methyl iodide.
Uses
It has almost no uses. It is rarely used to test instruments that are used to detect mercury.
Safety
It is extremely toxic. If just a drip gets placed on human skin, it will poison the person. It gets into the brain easily when it goes through the skin. The poisoning does not happen quickly, though. It sometimes can take months before the poisoning effects show.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Dimetilmercurio para niños
