Substance profile
Methylmercury chloride
Methylmercury chloride is white crystals or plates from ethanol with a characteristic odor.
01 · Identification
What Methylmercury chloride is
Methylmercury chloride is white crystals or plates from ethanol with a characteristic odor. It melts at 170 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as carcinogens.
Other names for Methylmercury chloride
- methylmercuric chloride
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H351 | Suspected of causing cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H360Df | May damage the unborn child. Suspected of damaging fertility. |
| H362 | May cause harm to breast-fed children. |
| H330 | Fatal if inhaled. |
| H310 | Fatal in contact with skin. |
| H300 | Fatal if swallowed. |
| H372 | Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
| H410 | Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
Precautionary statements: P201, P260, P270, P271, P273, P280, P301, P302, P304, P308, P310, P313, P314, P330, P352, P391, P501
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Methylmercury chloride properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 170 °C (338 °F) | HSDB | |
| Density | 4.063 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 4.06 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | CAMEO | |
| Solubility | less than 0.1 mg/mL at 70 °F (NTP, 1992) | at 21.11 °C | CAMEO |
| Vapor pressure | 0.0085 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| 0.0085 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Source notes
Further notes on Methylmercury chloride
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Solubility
METHYL- & ETHYLMERCURY CHLORIDE HAVE A HIGH SOLUBILITY IN SOLVENTS & LIPIDS; SHORT-CHAIN ALKYLMERCURIC COMPOUNDS FORM SALTS WITH HALOGENS, WHICH ARE HIGHLY VOLATILE AT ROOM TEMP; SATURATION CONCN OF METHYLMERCURY CHLORIDE AT 20 °C IS 90000 MG MERCURY/CU M; OTHER SALTS, SUCH AS HYDROXIDE & NITRATE OF METHYLMERCURY ARE LESS VOLATILE /METHYLMERCURY COMPOUNDS/
Source: HSDB
05 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Methylmercury chloride
Storage conditions
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": Storage site should be as close as practical to lab in which carcinogens are to be used, so that only small quantities required for ... expt need to be carried. Carcinogens should be kept in only one section of cupboard, an explosion-proof refrigerator or freezer (depending on chemicophysical properties ...) that bears appropriate label. An inventory ... should be kept, showing quantity of carcinogen & date it was acquired ... Facilities for dispensing ... should be contiguous to storage area. /Chemical Carcinogens/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
METHYL MERCURY(II)CHLORIDE may be sensitive to light.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Methylmercury chloride in the storage compatibility matrix →