What does mercuric mean?
Mercuric is a technical adjective used in chemistry to identify substances containing mercury in the +2 oxidation state. In such compounds, each mercury atom has an oxidation number of two, distinguishing these substances from mercurous compounds, in which mercury has an oxidation number of one. Familiar examples include mercuric chloride, mercuric oxide, and mercuric sulfate. Although the adjective can be understood literally as “of or containing mercury,” its specialized sense refers more precisely to the chemical form of the element. Because many mercury compounds are highly toxic and can damage the nervous system and other organs, the term commonly appears in warnings, environmental reports, medical literature, and laboratory safety information. In ordinary conversation, people are more likely to use the broader word mercury or the unrelated but similarly sounding adjective mercurial, meaning changeable or unpredictable.
adjectiveIn chemistry, of or containing mercury in the +2 oxidation state. The term is used especially for compounds containing divalent mercury, such as mercuric chloride.
- Of or containing mercury in the +2 oxidation state, especially as a divalent ion or as part of a chemical compound.
"The laboratory used a mercuric chloride solution to disinfect the contaminated surface."
"Mercuric compounds must be handled with extreme care because they are highly toxic."
"The analysis detected a high concentration of the mercuric ion in the water sample."
Mercury shares its name with both the silvery element and the swift Roman planet, itself named for the god of commerce.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mercuric come from?
Mercuric was formed from mercury with the chemical suffix -ic, in a pattern indicating a characteristic form of an element. The English word mercury ultimately comes through Old French and Medieval Latin from Latin Mercurius, the name of the Roman god and the planet. The element acquired the same name through its historical association with the planet Mercury.
How mercuric is actually used
This is a specialized chemistry term, normally used attributively in the names of compounds. It is chiefly British and American English and should not be used as a general synonym for mercurial or volatile.
Easily confused with mercuric
Mercuric denotes mercury in the +2 oxidation state, whereas mercurous denotes mercury in the +1 oxidation state.