Detection of mercury in air in the presence of chlorine and water vapor.

Evidence is presented that low concentrations of mercury and chlorine vapor in air form reaction products. At constant mercury concentration the rate of formation increases with chlorine concentration and relative humidity. The mercury-chlorine compound as well as the vapor of elemental mercury are absorbed by Hopcalite or by KMnO4-H2SO4 scrubber solution. The compound can be separated from mercury vapor by its absorption in polyurethane or by filtration by means of Millipore aerosol membranes.