Question

Common oxidation states of mercury are +1 and +2. In the +1 oxidation state, mercury forms a diatomic cation. In the +2 oxidation state, mercury is a typical monatomic cation.

mercury(I) = Hg2^2+
mercury(II) = Hg^2+

Give formulas for the following mercury compounds.
mercury(I) bromide

Answer 1

Since mercury (I) is positive (Hg+), and bromide is negative (Br-), then the compound mercury (I) bromide HgBr is balanced, since + and - cancel each other out.