Hg₂Cl₂ + 2 NH₃ → Hg + Hg(NH₂)Cl + NH₄Cl

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

Hg₂Cl₂ is both an oxidizing and a reducing agent (disproportionation (dismutation)).

Reactants:

• Hg₂Cl₂ – Dimercury dichloride
  • Other names: Mercury(I) chloride , Mercurous chloride , Calomel ... show moreHg2Cl2 , ClHgHgCl , Mild mercury chloride , Mercury subchloride show less
  • Appearance: White solid ; White crystalline powder
• NH₃
  • Names: Ammonia , Azane (only intended for use in naming derivatives of ammonia) , Hydrogen nitride ... show moreAmmonia (anhydrous) , Azane , NH3 , Trihydrogen nitride , R717 , Refrigerant gas 717 , Anhydrous ammonia , Aqua ammonia , Aqueous ammonia , [Note: Often used in an aqueous solution.] show less
  • Appearance: Colourless gas ; Colourless gas or compressed liquefied gas with pungent odour ; Colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating odor. [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas. Easily liquefied under pressure.]

Products:

• Hg
  • Names: Mercury , Hg , Quicksilver ... show moreHydrargyrum , Element 80 , Liquid silver show less
  • Appearance: Odourless heavy mobile silvery liquid metal
• Hg(NH₂)Cl
• NH₄Cl – Ammonium chloride
  • Other names: Sal ammoniac , Salmiac , Nushadir salt ... show moreSal armagnac , Salt armoniack , Salmiak , Ammonium chloride fume , Amchlor , Ammoneric , Ammonium muriate , Darammon , Sal ammonia , Salammonite , [NH4]Cl , NH4Cl , Ammoniumchlorid , Azanium chloride , Ammonium muriate fume , Sal ammoniac fume show less
  • Appearance: White solid, hygroscopic ; Odourless colourless-to-white hygroscopic solid in various forms ; Finely divided, odorless, white particulate dispersed in air.