mercuric sulfide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowtechnical/scientific
Quick answer
What does “mercuric sulfide” mean?
A bright red, insoluble chemical compound of mercury and sulfur (HgS), occurring naturally as the mineral cinnabar.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bright red, insoluble chemical compound of mercury and sulfur (HgS), occurring naturally as the mineral cinnabar.
A vivid red pigment, historically known as vermilion, made from this compound and used in art and decoration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling variant: US spelling 'sulfide' vs. UK spelling 'sulphide' (i.e., mercuric sulphide).
Connotations
Identical connotations as a toxic, historically significant substance in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Used with equal rarity in technical contexts in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “mercuric sulfide” in a Sentence
The [noun] contained mercuric sulfide.Mercuric sulfide is used to [verb phrase].The pigment, mercuric sulfide, was...HgS, or mercuric sulfide, ...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mercuric sulfide” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sample must be calcined to form mercuric sulphide.
- They attempted to synthesise mercuric sulphide.
American English
- They processed the ore to produce mercuric sulfide.
- The compound will precipitate as mercuric sulfide.
adverb
British English
- The material reacted mercuric-sulphide-like, forming a red precipitate.
adjective
British English
- The mercuric-sulphide pigment has degraded.
- This is a mercuric-sulphide-based compound.
American English
- A mercuric-sulfide residue was found.
- The mercuric-sulfide compound was analyzed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used, except in highly specific industries related to pigments or mercury mining.
Academic
Common in chemistry, geology, art history, and toxicology papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used. An educated person might refer to 'vermilion' instead.
Technical
The primary context. Precise term for the compound in scientific and industrial documentation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mercuric sulfide”
- Misspelling 'sulfide/sulphide' (e.g., 'sulferide').
- Confusing it with 'mercurous sulfide' (Hg₂S).
- Using 'mercuric sulfide' to describe a person's personality (which would be 'mercurial').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is toxic due to its mercury content. Inhalation of dust or ingestion can cause mercury poisoning.
Cinnabar is the natural mineral form of mercuric sulfide. Vermilion is the name for the pigment made from it, whether natural or synthetic.
'Sulphide' is the traditional British English spelling, while 'sulfide' is standard in American English and modern scientific contexts.
Modern 'vermilion' paints often use safer, organic pigments. True mercuric sulfide pigment is rare due to its toxicity and is primarily used by specialists in art restoration or historical reproduction.
A bright red, insoluble chemical compound of mercury and sulfur (HgS), occurring naturally as the mineral cinnabar.
Mercuric sulfide is usually technical/scientific in register.
Mercuric sulfide: in British English it is pronounced /mɜːˌkjʊər.ɪk ˈsʌl.faɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɚˈkjʊr.ɪk ˈsʌl.faɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “none”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Roman god MERCURY (the metal's namesake) wearing a SULFUR-y, bright RED (vermilion) robe.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often conceptualised as 'dangerous beauty' due to its vibrant colour and high toxicity.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'mercuric sulfide' LEAST likely to be used?