Mercury Is a Transition Metal: The First Experimental Evidence for HgF4

2007/09/26 by Xuefang Wang, Lester Andrews, Sebastian Riedel +1 · 5 citations
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Chemical Physics Studies #Argon #Atomic and Molecular Physics #Atomic orbital #Atomic physics #Chemistry #Computer science #Electron #Inorganic Fluorides and Related Compounds #Mercury (programming language) #Neon #Organic chemistry #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Spectroscopy #Transition metal

paper · doi:10.1002/anie.200703710

openalex publication_date 2007/09/26 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03

Abstract

A new take on quicksilver: The elements of Group 12 are generally considered post-transition metals with filled d shells. However, calculations predict d8 HgF4 (see plot of the electron localization function) to be stable. IR spectroscopy in solid neon and argon matrixes gives first experimental evidence for HgF4. As HgIV, mercury would be a true transition metal that fully utilizes its 5d orbitals in bonding.

Citations

• General atomic and molecular electronic structure system
• Development of the Colle-Salvetti correlation-energy formula into a functional of the electron density
• A New Look at Electron Localization
• Revising the Highest Oxidation States of the 5d Elements: The Case of Iridium(+VII)
• A simple measure of electron localization in atomic and molecular systems
• Density-functional thermochemistry. III. The role of exact exchange
• Oxidation State +IV in Group 12 Chemistry. Ab Initio Study of Zinc(IV), Cadmium(IV), and Mercury(IV) Fluorides
• Tripositive mercury. Low temperature electrochemical oxidation of 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecanemercury(II) tetrafluoroborate

Cited by

• Exclusively Relativistic: Periodic Trends in the Melting and Boiling Points of Group 12
• The highest oxidation states of the transition metal elements
• Chemistry of superheavy transition metals
• Stable copernicium hexafluoride (CnF 6 ) with an oxidation state of VI+
• Mercury (element) [wikipedia]

Related

• Mercury Is a Transition Metal: The First Experimental Evidence for HgF4
• First-Principles Calculation of the Structure of Mercury
• High pressures make Hg a transition metal in a thermodynamically stable solid
• The Chemical Composition of Mercury
• Chemistry of superheavy transition metals