Oxygen = O. Mercury = Hg. If HgO is mercuric oxide, what is the symbol of mercurous oxide?
A. HgO2
B. Hg2O
C. Hg2O3
D. Hg3O2
Mercury forms bivalent mercuric (Hg2+) and bivalent mercurous (Hg2 2+) compounds. These are formed even though mercury has a valence of 2 and 1. Mercurous oxide is Hg2O.