Phenylmercuric Acetate BP
Ph Eur
C8H8HgO2 --- 336.7 --- CAS 62-38-4
Action and use: Antiseptic, antimicrobial preservative.
DEFINITION
Content: 98.0 per cent to 100.5 per cent (dried substance).
CHARACTERS
Appearance: White or yellowish, crystalline powder or small, colourless
crystals.
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, soluble in acetone and in alcohol.
IDENTIFICATION
First identification A.
Second identification B, C.
A. Infrared absorption spectrophotometry.
B. To 5 ml of solution S (see Tests) add 5 ml of water and 0.1 ml of sodium sulphide
solution. A white precipitate is formed that darkens slowly on heating.
C. To 10 ml of solution S add 2 ml of potassium iodide solution and shake
vigorously. Filter. The filtrate gives reaction (b) of acetates.
TESTS
Solution S: Dissolve 0.250 g in 40 ml of water by heating to boiling. Allow
to cool and dilute to 50 ml with water. Prepare the solution immediately before
use.
Appearance of solution: Solution S is not more opalescent than reference
suspension and is colourless.
Ionised mercury: Maximum 0.2 per cent.
Polymercuric benzene compounds: Maximum 1.5 per cent.
Loss on drying: Maximum 0.5 per cent, determined on 0.500 g by drying in an
oven at 45C for 15 h.
