A yellow-orange, crystalline compound that is an extremely toxic poison and carcinogen. It is known to have many side effects including ulcers to the mouth and throat, corrosive damage to intestines and kidneys and vomiting of blood in severe cases. It is a cumulative poison that builds up in the body over time and can cause organ failure. It also crosses the blood-brain barrier to cause neurological damage.

Inhalation of mercury compounds is associated with a condition called acrodynia, which can lead to tremors, irritability, insomnia and loss of appetite, as well as enlarged spleen and lymph nodes. The organic mercury compound, calomel, is still used in some countries to promote the production of urine in an attempt to treat certain kidney disorders.

Mercury chromate is an important reagent in scientific research because it can react with other mercury compounds and reduce their toxicity. It is also used as a fungicide and corrosion inhibitor. It is known to be a toxicological concern because it binds with proteins and enzymes, disrupting their function, causing oxidative stress and cellular damage.

The crystal structure of fulminated mercury, or mercury ii chromate, was discovered by Antoine Lavoisier, the “father of modern chemistry” in 1807 as part of his studies on chemical reactions. It has been found that the crystals can be grown to enormous sizes. The structure is a complex polymer consisting of regular [HgO7] pentagonal bipyramids and distorted [HgO6] octahedra and is a good model for the structure of metallic hydrides.