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[–]989490 1 point2 points  (0 children)


No chromium is required for this reaction.

The requirements are an oxidant, which could be KMnO4 or H2O2. The whole idea is that the mercury is oxidized when exposed to conc. sulfuric acid and creates a film of mercury sulfate, this film is then oxidized. These two types of film on the surface of the mercury have different surface tensions. The iron is required because electron transfer is the only way to facilitate such a reaction.