[Wermol]

What is the difference between red & yellow mercury oxide?

Im looking to synth them, presumably the oxide can be produced from mercury by dissolving it in HNO3, then precipitating with hot NaOH? Which oxide forms?

Is this the best way to go about it from mercury. I can buy the oxide but I have a lot of mercury and the oxide is very expensive!

Thanks..

[hmx9123]

Check out The Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry.  Georg Brauer, Ed.  It's been out of print since 1963, but most major universities have a copy of it.  It lists how to make, in pure form, just about every inorganic matieral you could think of.  In addition, check through inorganic syntheses.  The Merck Index may also have a few references for you.

[Wermol]

Actually, it aint in there! (Brauer).

I cant find it anywhere... not even the difference between the red and yellow (they are both mercuric oxide, HgO).

Some synths call specifically for red, or yellow mercuric oxide.