2 Cu (s) + HgCl2 (aq) → 2 CuCl (s) + Hg (l)

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

2 Cu0 - 2 e- → 2 CuI (oxidation)

HgII + 2 e- → Hg0 (reduction)

Cu is a reducing agent, HgCl2 is an oxidizing agent.

Reactants:

  • Cu
    • Names: Copper source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Copper (dusts and mists, as Cu) source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Cu source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
    • Appearance: Solid in various forms. turns green on exposure to moist air source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Reddish, lustrous, malleable, odorless solid. source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • HgCl2 – Mercury(II) chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Mercury dichloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Other names: Mercuric chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Corrosive sublimate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, ClHgCl source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Colorless or white solid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; White crystals or powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04

Products:

  • CuCl – Copper(I) chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Cuprous chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Cuproid source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Cu-lyt source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: White powder, slightly green from oxidized impurities source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
  • Hg
    • Names: Mercury source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Hg source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Quicksilver source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Odourless heavy mobile silvery liquid metal source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04