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Chemical Name: Mercurous Iodide
Common Names: Mercuric iodide(I), Mercury(I) iodide, Yellow mercury iodide
Chemical Formula: Hg2I2
Appearance: Pale yellow to greenish-yellow powder, may darken with light exposure
Odor: Odorless
Uses: Historically found in labs or specialty chemical collections, sometimes mentioned in older medical contexts but rarely handled today except by professionals
Hazard Classes: Acute Toxicity (oral, inhalation, skin), Specific Target Organ Toxicity, Environmentally Hazardous substance
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Harmful if swallowed or inhaled, causes skin and eye irritation, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment, suspected threat to kidneys and nervous system over time
Pictograms: Skull and crossbones, exclamation mark, dead fish and tree
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing dust, keep away from flames, wash thoroughly after handling, avoid release into environment without containment plan
Main Ingredient: Mercurous Iodide (Hg2I2)
Purity: Typically high purity in chemical-grade material
Known Impurities: May include traces of mercury or iodine, both have significant safety concerns
Inhalation: Remove from exposure, get to fresh air, seek medical advice quickly, monitor for breathing trouble
Skin Contact: Wash with plenty of running water and soap, remove contaminated clothing, look for symptoms like redness or blistering, consult medical professionals
Eye Contact: Rinse immediately with water for at least fifteen minutes, hold eyelids open, do not rub, seek immediate medical help
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth with water, get medical attention quickly, show container or label if possible
Notes for Doctors: Treat with support for mercury exposure; chelation therapy may be necessary for serious cases
Flammability: Not flammable, but may give off hazardous mercury and iodine vapors when heated
Extinguishing Media: Use powder, foam, or carbon dioxide for surroundings, never use water directly on fires that reach chemicals like this
Firefighting Instructions: Wear full protective gear, including a self-contained breathing apparatus, keep a safe distance, prevent runoff from contaminating sewers or waterways
Hazardous Combustion Products: Mercury fumes, iodine vapor, corrosive gases
Personal Protection: Wear gloves, goggles, and dust mask or respirator certified for mercury dust
Environmental Precautions: Work quickly to avoid chemical release, keep out of sewage, ditches, and waterways
Cleanup Methods: Sweep up spilled powder without generating dust, use sealed containers for disposal, ventilate area well, keep untrained personnel away
Handling: Always use in well-ventilated spaces, never eat, drink, or smoke near it, minimize direct contact, avoid creating dust clouds, use protective clothing at all times
Storage: Store in tightly sealed containers, keep away from strong acids, bases, light, and incompatible chemicals, secure area against unauthorized entry
Incompatibilities: Avoid keeping near oxidizers, ammonia, strong reducing agents
Engineering Controls: Work in chemical fume hoods or areas with local exhaust ventilation, keep airborne concentrations below recommended levels
Personal Protection: Nitrile or neoprene gloves, chemical splash goggles, lab coat, approved respirators if dust or vapor is present
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands thoroughly after handling, remove clothes and shoes if contaminated, proper laundering before reuse
Exposure Limits: Occupational exposure limits for mercury compounds apply, generally very strict and set by international and regional regulations
Appearance: Pale yellow powder, darkens on exposure to light
Odor: None
Molecular Weight: 654.99 g/mol
Melting Point: Decomposes before melting
Solubility: Insoluble in water, decomposes in hot water
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at room temperature, but heating increases hazard
Other Properties: May decompose slowly in moist air, gives off dangerous vapors if mishandled
Chemical Stability: Stable in dry, dark, cool places
Reactivity: Reacts with light, strong acids, and some metals
Decomposition Products: Mercury vapor, iodine, corrosive fumes
Avoid: Heat, direct sunlight, incompatible chemicals like oxidizers, ammonia, acids
Acute Effects: Toxic if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin, causes irritation, central nervous system symptoms including tremors, headaches, or confusion with significant exposure
Chronic Effects: Cumulative mercury toxicity, potential kidney and nerve damage, long-term exposure could lead to severe organ failure, reproductive toxicity documented in mercury compounds
Notable Routes of Exposure: Dust inhalation, hand-to-mouth transfer, improper handling without gloves or mask
Environmental Effect: Persistent and highly toxic to aquatic organisms, bioaccumulates in aquatic food chains, even minor spills threaten ecosystems for decades
Behavior in Environment: Does not readily break down, mercury ions travel long distances, may poison birds or mammals which consume contaminated water or prey
Preventive Action: Spill prevention carries real importance, and all waste requires careful management
Waste Procedures: Treat as hazardous waste, use sealed containers, store clearly labeled, and send to specialized disposal facilities
Prohibited Practices: No dumping in trash, no flushing to sewer, never landfill without authorization
Reuse/Recycle: Not recommended due to contamination and toxicity risks
Regulatory Control: Strict regulations in most regions, may require manifest and tracking from lab to destruction
UN Number: Treated as a regulated hazardous material by most transport agencies
Shipping Name: Mercury compound, solid, n.o.s.
Packing Group: Usually in highest hazard class, requires special packaging, labeling, and documentation
Transport Hazards: Risk of exposure through breakage, accidental release, legal penalties for improper shipment
Special Precautions: Staff training, secure packaging, emergency spill kit required during transport
Major Guidelines: Covered by workplace and environmental protection laws including those from OSHA, EPA, European REACH, and global equivalents; strict limits set for worker exposure and environmental release
Labeling: Clear hazard warnings must be visible at all times, delivered with safety information and risk phrases
Recordkeeping: Logbooks and chain-of-custody records expected by inspection agencies
Reporting Requirements: Any significant loss, spill, or worker exposure must be reported to authorities without delay
