1. of, relating to, or containing mercury in its lower valence state
Usage: chemistry

Examples

• Mercurous chloride is also known as calomel.
• The mercurous ion has a +1 oxidation state.
• Mercurous compounds are less stable than mercuric compounds.
• The laboratory analyzed the mercurous salt sample.
• Mercurous oxide decomposes when heated.
• The chemist distinguished between mercurous and mercuric forms.