mercuric oxide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “mercuric oxide” mean?
A red or yellow powdery compound of mercury and oxygen.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A red or yellow powdery compound of mercury and oxygen.
A chemical compound with the formula HgO, used historically in medicine and as a pigment, and in modern contexts as a precursor in chemical synthesis and laboratory reagent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to technical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “mercuric oxide” in a Sentence
Mercuric oxide is [adjective: unstable, toxic].Mercuric oxide [verb: decomposes, reacts] with [noun].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mercuric oxide” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The mercuric oxide sample was carefully labelled.
- A mercuric oxide preparation is required.
American English
- The mercuric oxide reagent is highly toxic.
- Follow the mercuric oxide handling protocol.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; only in contexts of chemical manufacturing or laboratory supply.
Academic
Common in chemistry textbooks, research papers, and laboratory manuals.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Primary domain; used in chemistry, materials science, and industrial processes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mercuric oxide”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mercuric oxide”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mercuric oxide”
- Confusing 'mercuric' (Hg²⁺) with 'mercurous' (Hg₂²⁺).
- Pronouncing 'mercuric' with a hard 'c' (/k/ instead of /s/).
- Misspelling as 'mercury oxide' (which is less precise).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is toxic if ingested or inhaled and can be harmful upon skin contact.
It exists in two forms: a red form and a yellow form; the colour difference is due to particle size and crystal structure.
Historically as a pigment and in medicine; currently as a laboratory chemical for synthesis and as a precursor to other mercury compounds.
Very rarely; the mineral montroydite is a natural form of HgO, but it is exceedingly uncommon.
A red or yellow powdery compound of mercury and oxygen.
Mercuric oxide is usually technical/scientific in register.
Mercuric oxide: in British English it is pronounced /mɜːˈkjʊər.ɪk ˈɒk.saɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɜːrˈkjʊr.ɪk ˈɑːk.saɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MERCURY in IC form makes an OXIDE: Mercur-IC Oxide.
Conceptual Metaphor
A reactive powder (often conceptualized as a 'precursor' or 'source' for other substances).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'mercuric' in 'mercuric oxide' specifically indicate?