The hydrogen fluoride solvent system. Part IV. Solutions of mercury( II ) cyanide. Evidence for the Hg 2 (CN) 3 + cation

Cryoscopic, conductimetric, and spectroscopic methods have been used to study solutions of Hg(CN)2 in anhydrous HF. It is concluded that mercury(II) cyanide ionises in the following manner (a). The cation Hg2(CN)3+ probably 2Hg(CN)2+ 2HF Hg2(CN)3++ HCN + HF2–(a) has a linear cyanide bridged structure [NC–Hg–CN–Hg–CN]+. Further ionisation to give HgCN+ can also occur according to the equation (b). However the HgCN+ ion is not formed in …