| 1. |
2. |
| Test tube containing orange mercury(II) oxide | Heating the substance using a Bunsen burner |
| 3. |
4. |
| Check for oxygen using a glowing splint test | Separated, elemental mercury |
| Photo 1: | Mercury(II) oxide is an orange, highly poisonous substance that is formed when mercury that is exposed to air is heated to 300-350°C. |
| Photo 2: | At temperatures higher than 400°C, mercury(II) oxide decomposes
once again into its consitutent elements:
2 HgO >2 Hg + O2 |
| Photo 3: | The oxygen released can be detected using a glowing splint. |
| Photo 4: | The mercury released collects on a cool area of the test tube. |