mercuric chloride


nounChemistry.
  1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble, strongly acrid, highly poisonous solid, HgCl2, prepared by sublimation of chlorine with mercury, and used chiefly as an antiseptic.

Origin of mercuric chloride

1
First recorded in 1870–75

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British Dictionary definitions for mercuric chloride

mercuric chloride

noun
  1. a white poisonous soluble crystalline substance used as a pesticide, antiseptic, and preservative for wood. Formula: HgCl 2: Systematic name: mercury(II) chloride Also called: bichloride of mercury, corrosive sublimate

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