mercuric, a. Chem.
(mɜːˈkjʊərɪk)
[f. Mercury + -ic.]
† a. mercuric acid: see quot. 1828–32. b. The distinctive designation of salts in which mercury exists in its higher degree of valency, as mercuric chloride = corrosive sublimate; mercuric sulphide = vermilion.
| 1828–32 Webster, Mercuric acid, a saturated combination of mercury and oxygen. 1865 Watts Dict. Chem. III. 900 Normal mercuric salts..are colourless. 1874 Garrod & Baxter Mat. Med. (1880) 103 Mercuric chloride and sulphate of soda are produced. |