3 HgS (s) + 2 HNO₃ (aq) + 6 HCl (aq) → 3 HgCl₂ (aq) + 3 S (s) + 2 NO (g) + 4 H₂O (l)

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

HgS is a reducing agent, HNO₃ is an oxidizing agent.

Reactants:

• HgS – Mercury sulfide
  • Other names: Cinnabar , Vermilion , Mercury(II) sulfide
• HNO₃ – Nitric acid
  • Other names: Aqua fortis , Spirit of niter , Eau forte ... show moreHydrogen nitrate , Acidum nitricum , Nitric acid (> 70% in water) , Fuming nitric acid , Engravers acid , HONO2 , Red fuming nitric acid , RFNA , White fuming nitric acid (WFNA) show less
  • Appearance: Colorless, yellow or red fuming liquid ; Colourless-to-yellow liquid with pungent odour ; Colorless, yellow, or red, fuming liquid with an acrid, suffocating odor. [Note: Often used in an aqueous solution. Fuming nitric acid is concentrated nitric acid that contains dissolved nitrogen dioxide.]
• HCl – Chlorane , Hydrogen chloride
  • Other names: Hydrochloric acid , M , Uriatic acid ... show moreHydronium chloride , Chlorhydric Acid , Hydrochloric acid gas , HCl , Anhydrous hydrogen chloride , Hydrochloric acid, anhydrous , Aqueous hydrogen chloride , [Note: Often used in an aqueous solution.] show less
  • Appearance: Colorless, transparent liquid, fumes in air if concentrated ; Colorless gas ; Colourless compressed liquefied gas with pungent odour ; Colorless to slightly yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor. [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas.]

Products:

• HgCl₂ – Mercury(II) chloride , Mercury dichloride
  • Other names: Mercuric chloride , Corrosive sublimate , ClHgCl ... show moreSulema , Corrosive mercury chloride , Mercury bichloride , Mercury perchloride , HgCl2 , Mercuric bichloride , Sublimate , Dichloromercury , Perchloride of mercury , Sublimat , Dichlorure de mercure , Hydrargyrum bichloratum , Chlorure mercurique , Bichlorure de mercure , Quecksilber(II)-chlorid , Mercury (II) chloride show less
  • Appearance: Colorless or white solid ; White crystals or powder
• S
  • Names: Sulfur , S , Sulphur ... show moreElement 16 , Flowers of sulfur , Flour sulfur , Brimstone show less
  • Appearance: Yellow solid in various forms
• NO – Nitrogen monoxide , Oxidonitrogen(•) (additive)
  • Other names: Nitric oxide , Nitrogen(II) oxide , Nitric oxide (radical) ... show moreMononitrogen monoxide , (.)NO , EDRF , Nitrogen monooxide , [NO] , Oxido de nitrogeno(ii) , NO(.) , Oxido nitrico , Stickstoff(ii)-oxid , NO , Oxyde azotique , Oxyde nitrique , Stickstoffmonoxid , Nitrosyl , (NO)(.) , Monoxido de nitrogeno , Endothelium-derived relaxing factor , Nitroxide radical , Nitroxyl , Nitrosyl radical , Hydroxyamine , Nitrogen oxide , Nitrogen protoxide , Nitrosyl hydride , Nitric Oxide show less
  • Appearance: Colourless gas ; Colourless compressed gas ; Colorless gas. [Note: Shipped as a nonliquefied compressed gas.]
• H₂O – Water, oxidane
  • Other names: Water (H2O) , Hydrogen hydroxide (HH or HOH) , Hydrogen oxide ... show moreDihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) (systematic name) , Hydrogen monoxide , Dihydrogen oxide , Hydric acid , Hydrohydroxic acid , Hydroxic acid , Hydrol , Μ-oxido dihydrogen , Κ1-hydroxyl hydrogen(0) show less
  • Appearance: White crystalline solid, almost colorless liquid with a hint of blue, colorless gas