What can be used to clean mercury?

What can be used to clean mercury?

• A. 10% nitric acid with 90% distilled water
• B. 70% isopropyl alcohol
• C. Household ammonia
• D. Water only

Answer: (A)

Cleaning mercury spills effectively hinges on turning the liquid metal into a form that can be collected and disposed of safely. A diluted nitric acid solution does this by oxidizing elemental mercury to mercuric ions, forming mercuric nitrate which dissolves in water. Using a mixture of 10% nitric acid with 90% distilled water keeps the reaction controlled and the mercury in a soluble form for cleanup. The other options don’t provide this oxidation step: water alone won’t convert mercury to a soluble form, isopropyl alcohol won’t oxidize mercury, and household ammonia can form unwanted mercury complexes and fumes rather than reliably enabling safe cleanup.

Cleaning mercury spills effectively hinges on turning the liquid metal into a form that can be collected and disposed of safely. A diluted nitric acid solution does this by oxidizing elemental mercury to mercuric ions, forming mercuric nitrate which dissolves in water. Using a mixture of 10% nitric acid with 90% distilled water keeps the reaction controlled and the mercury in a soluble form for cleanup. The other options don’t provide this oxidation step: water alone won’t convert mercury to a soluble form, isopropyl alcohol won’t oxidize mercury, and household ammonia can form unwanted mercury complexes and fumes rather than reliably enabling safe cleanup.