Thiomersal

Thiomersal
Names
IUPAC name
Ethyl(2-mercaptobenzoato-(2-)-O,S) mercurate(1-) sodium
Other names
  • Mercury((o-carboxyphenyl)thio)ethyl sodium salt
  • sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate
  • thiomersalate sodium
Identifiers
CAS Number
3D model (JSmol)
Beilstein Reference
8169555
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.192
EC Number
  • 200-210-4
Gmelin Reference
1677155
KEGG
PubChem CID
RTECS number
  • OV8400000
UNII
InChI
  • InChI=1S/C7H6O2S.C2H5.Hg.Na/c8-7(9)5-3-1-2-4-6(5)10;1-2;;/h1-4,10H,(H,8,9);1H2,2H3;;/q;;2*+1/p-2 Y
    Key: RTKIYNMVFMVABJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L Y
  • InChI=1/C7H6O2S.C2H5.Hg.Na/c8-7(9)5-3-1-2-4-6(5)10;1-2;;/h1-4,10H,(H,8,9);1H2,2H3;;/q;;2*+1/p-2/rC9H10HgO2S.Na/c1-2-10-13-8-6-4-3-5-7(8)9(11)12;/h3-6H,2H2,1H3,(H,11,12);/q;+1/p-1
    Key: RTKIYNMVFMVABJ-TYXNQWANAP
SMILES
  • [Na+].[O-]C(=O)c1ccccc1S[Hg]CC
Properties
Chemical formula
C9H9HgNaO2S
Molar mass 404.81 g/mol
Appearance White or slightly yellow powder
Density 2.508 g/cm3
Melting point 232 to 233 °C (450 to 451 °F; 505 to 506 K) (decomposition)
Solubility in water
1000 g/L (20 °C)
Pharmacology
D08AK06 (WHO)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word
Danger
Hazard statements
H300, H310, H330, H373, H410
Precautionary statements
P260, P273, P280, P301, P302, P304, P310, P330, P340, P352
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
3
1
1
Flash point 250 °C (482 °F; 523 K)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
75 mg/kg (oral, rat)
Safety data sheet (SDS) External MSDS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Y verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Thiomersal (INN), or thimerosal (USAN, JAN), also sold under the name merthiolate, is an organomercury compound. It is a well-established antiseptic and antifungal agent.

It has been used as a preservative in vaccines, immunoglobulin preparations, skin test antigens, antivenins, ophthalmic and nasal products, and tattoo inks. In spite of the scientific consensus that fears about its safety are unsubstantiated, its use as a vaccine preservative has been called into question by anti-vaccination groups.