Hg + 2 H2SO4 → HgSO4 + 2 H2O + SO2

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

SVI + 2 e- → SIV (reduction)

Hg0 - 2 e- → HgII (oxidation)

H2SO4 is an oxidizing agent, Hg is a reducing agent.

Reactants:

  • Hg
    • Names: Mercury source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Hg source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Quicksilver source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Odourless heavy mobile silvery liquid metal source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • H2SO4 – Sulfuric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Oil of vitriol source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Sulfuric acid, concentrated (> 51% and < 100%) source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, H2SO4 source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
    • Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Odourless colourless oily hygroscopic liquid source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless to dark-brown, oily, odorless liquid. [Note: Pure compound is a solid below 51°F. Often used in an aqueous solution.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02

Products:

  • HgSO4
    • Names: Mercury(II) sulfate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Mercuric sulfate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Mercurypersulfate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: White monoclinic crystals source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; White crystalline powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
  • H2O – Water, oxidane source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Water (H2O) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen hydroxide (HH or HOH) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: White crystalline solid, almost colorless liquid with a hint of blue, colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
  • SO2 – Sulfur dioxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-28source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Sulfurous anhydride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-28source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Sulphur dioxide source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Sulfurous acid anhydride source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-28; Colourless gas or compressed liquefied gas with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless gas with a characteristic, irritating, pungent odor. [Note: A liquid below 14°F. Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02