Diethylmercury is a flammable, colorless liquid, and one of the strongest known
neurotoxin
Neurotoxins are toxins that are destructive to nerve tissue (causing neurotoxicity). Neurotoxins are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological insultsSpencer 2000 that can adversely affect function in both developing and matur ...
s. This
organomercury compound is described as having a slightly sweet smell, though inhaling enough fumes to notice this would be hazardous.
This chemical can cross the
blood–brain barrier, causing permanent brain damage. It is, however, considerably less toxic than
dimethylmercury
Dimethylmercury (( C H3)2 Hg) is an extremely toxic organomercury compound. A highly volatile, reactive, flammable, and colorless liquid, dimethylmercury is one of the strongest known neurotoxins, with a quantity of less than 0.1 mL capable of i ...
.
Synthesis
Diethylmercury can be obtained from the reaction between
ethylmagnesium bromide and
mercury(II) chloride.
:2 C
2H
5MgBr + HgCl
2 → Hg(C
2H
5)
2 + MgBr
2 + MgCl
2
Other methods are also known.
See also
*
Dimethylmercury
Dimethylmercury (( C H3)2 Hg) is an extremely toxic organomercury compound. A highly volatile, reactive, flammable, and colorless liquid, dimethylmercury is one of the strongest known neurotoxins, with a quantity of less than 0.1 mL capable of i ...
, a related compound
*
Ethylmercury
Ethylmercury (sometimes ethyl mercury) is a cation composed of an organic CH3CH2- species (an ethyl group) bound to a mercury(II) centre, making it a type of organometallic cation, and giving it a chemical formula C2H5Hg+. The main source of eth ...
*
Mercury poisoning
Mercury poisoning is a type of metal poisoning due to exposure to mercury. Symptoms depend upon the type, dose, method, and duration of exposure. They may include muscle weakness, poor coordination, numbness in the hands and feet, skin rash ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diethyl Mercury
Organomercury compounds
Sweet-smelling chemicals