Properties

Dimethylmercury-3D-vdW.png
General
Name	Dimethylmercury
Chemical formula	(CH3)2Hg
Appearance	Colorless liquid
Physical
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
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
Ingestion	Fatal
Inhalation	Fatal
Skin	Fatal
Eyes	Fatal
SI units were used where possible. Unless otherwise stated, standard conditions were used.

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 .

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.

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.

Use

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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.

See also

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

External links

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• 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

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Organometallic compounds | Mercury compounds | Neurotoxins

Dimethylquecksilber | Dimetylortęć