2 Cl2 (g) + HgO (s) → Cl2O (g) + HgCl2 (aq)

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

2 Cl0 - 2 e- → 2 ClI (oxidation)

2 Cl0 + 2 e- → 2 Cl-I (reduction)

Cl2 is both an oxidizing and a reducing agent (disproportionation (dismutation)).

Reactants:

  • Cl2
    • Names: Chlorine source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Molecular chlorine source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Greenish-yellow compressed liquefied gas with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Greenish-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor. [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • HgO – Mercury(II) oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Mercuric oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Montroydite source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Red mercury source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Mercury (II) oxide source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Yellow or red solid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Yellow, orange-yellow or red heavy crystalline powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04

Products:

  • Cl2O – Chlorine monoxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Chlorooxidanyl source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Dichlorine monoxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Oxygen dichloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Dichlorine oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Brownish-yellow gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
  • HgCl2 – Mercury(II) chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Mercury dichloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Other names: Mercuric chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Corrosive sublimate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, ClHgCl source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Colorless or white solid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; White crystals or powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04