Properties

General Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1063x543, 4 KB) Summary Self made in ChemDraw and Photoshop by Benjah-bmm27 17:32, 1 March 2006 (UTC). ...
Name	Dimethylmercury
Chemical formula	(CH3)2Hg
Appearance	Colorless liquid
Physical A chemical formula (also called molecular formula) is a concise way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound. ... Color is an important part of the visual arts. ...
Formula weight	230.659 amu
Melting point	230 K (-43 °C)
Boiling point	360-370 K (87-97 °C)
Density	2960 kg/m3
Solubility	insoluble
Thermochemistry ... The unified atomic mass unit (u), or dalton (Da), is a small unit of mass used to express atomic and molecular masses. ... The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. ... The kelvin (symbol: K) is the SI unit of temperature, and is one of the seven SI base units. ... A degree Celsius (°C) is a unit of temperature named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-1744), who first proposed a similar system in 1742. ... The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it can change its state from a liquid to a gas throughout the bulk of the liquid at a given pressure. ... The kelvin (symbol: K) is the SI unit of temperature, and is one of the seven SI base units. ... A degree Celsius (°C) is a unit of temperature named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-1744), who first proposed a similar system in 1742. ... Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per unit of volume. ... The international prototype, made of platinum-iridium, which is kept at the BIPM under conditions specified by the 1st CGPM in 1889. ... metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) The metre (in the U.S., chiefly meter) is a measure of length, approximately equal to 3. ... A substance is soluble in a fluid if it dissolves in that fluid. ...
ΔfH0gas	? kJ/mol
ΔfH0liquid	55-60 kJ/mol
ΔfH0solid	162.2 kJ/mol
S0gas, 1 bar	? J/mol·K
S0liquid, 1 bar	? J/mol·K
S0solid	? J/mol·K
Safety The standard enthalpy of formation or standard heat of formation of a compound is the change of enthalpy that accompanies the formation of 1 mole of a substance in its standard state from its constituent elements in their standard states (the most stable form of the element at 1 atmosphere... The joule (symbol: J) is the SI unit of energy, or work with base units of kg·m²/s² (N·m). ... The mole and its simple conversions into different units of measurements. ... In chemistry, the standard molar entropy is the entropy content of one mole of substance, under conditions of standard temperature and pressure. ...
Ingestion	Fatal
Inhalation	Fatal
Skin	Fatal
Eyes	Fatal
SI units were used where possible. Unless otherwise stated, standard conditions were used. Cover of brochure The International System of Units. ... Temperature and air pressure can vary from one place to another on the Earth, and can also vary in the same place with time. ...

Dimethylmercury ((CH₃)₂Hg) is a flammable, colorless liquid, and one of the strongest known neurotoxins. It is described as having a slightly sweet smell, though inhaling enough fumes to notice this would involve significant exposure to the chemical. It is extremely dangerous, with absorption of doses as low as 0.1 mL being fatal. The high vapor pressure of the liquid means that any spillage will result in dangerous levels of exposure to the fumes for those nearby. Its molecule has a linear structure, with the mercury and carbon atoms in line. The CAS registry number is [593-74-8][1]. General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Atomic mass 12. ... General Name, Symbol, Number hydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1, 1, s Appearance colorless Atomic mass 1. ... General Name, Symbol, Number mercury, Hg, 80 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 6, d Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 200. ... It has been suggested that Neurotoxicity be merged into this article or section. ... The millilitre is the equivalent of a cubic centimetre. ... Vapor pressure is the pressure of a vapor in equilibrium with its non-vapor phases. ... CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for chemical compounds, polymers, biological sequences, mixtures and alloys. ...

Dimethylmercury crosses the blood-brain barrier easily, probably due to formation of a complex with cysteine. It is eliminated from the organism very slowly, therefore it has tendency to bioaccumulate. The symptoms of poisoning may appear when it is too late for effective treatment. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a membrane that controls the passage of substances from the blood into the central nervous system. ... Cysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid which has a thiol group and is found in most proteins, though only in small quantities. ... To bioaccumulate literally means to accumulate in a biological system. ...

Dimethylmercury passes through latex, PVC, and neoprene rapidly (within seconds), and is absorbed through the skin. Therefore, most laboratory gloves do not provide adequate protection from it, and the only safe precaution is to handle dimethyl mercury while wearing highly resistant laminated gloves underneath long-cuffed neoprene or other heavy-duty gloves. The LaTeX logo, typeset with LaTeX , written as LaTeX in plain text, is a document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. ... Polyvinyl chloride, (IUPAC Polychloroethene) commonly abbreviated PVC, is a widely-used plastic. ... Neoprene is the DuPont Chemical trade name for a family of synthetic rubbers based on polychloroprene. ... A close-up of human skin. ...

Use

Dimethylmercury is most often used in toxicology experiments as a fixed point of reference due to its extreme toxicity. It has also been used to calibrate NMR instruments for detection of mercury, although less toxic mercury salts are preferred. Toxicology (from the Greek words toxicon and logos) is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms. ... NMR may refer to: Nuclear magnetic resonance, a phenomenon involving the interaction of atomic nuclei and external magnetic fields Nielsen Media Research, a U.S. company which measures TV, radio and newspaper audiences This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the...

See also

• Karen Wetterhahn - a chemistry professor who died after spilling a few drops onto a gloved hand.
• Minamata disease
• Methylmercury

Karen Wetterhahn was a well-known professor of chemistry at Dartmouth College specializing in toxic metal exposure. ... Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. ... Methylmercury (sometimes methyl mercury), an organometallic positive ion (cation), is a widespread bioaccumulative environmental toxin. ...

External links

• ATSDR - ToxFAQs™: Mercury
• ATSDR - Public Health Statement: Mercury
• ATSDR - ALERT! Patterns of Metallic Mercury Exposure, 6/26/97
• ATSDR - MMG: Mercury
• ATSDR - Toxicological Profile: Mercury
• National Pollutant Inventory - Mercury and compounds Fact Sheet
• Dimethylmercury, Molecule of the Month and the story of Karen Wetterhahn
• OSHA update following Karen Wetterhahn's death

External links

For a full list of external links, MSDSs, and suppliers of chemical compounds, see Wikipedia:Chemical sources. This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...