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Red mercury is purportedly a substance of uncertain composition used in the creation of nuclear weapons, as well as other weapons systems. Because of the great secrecy surrounding the development and manufacturing of nuclear weapons, there is no proof that red mercury exists. However, all samples of alleged "red mercury" analyzed in the public literature have proven to be well-known, common red substances of no interest to weapons makers.

Red mercury is therefore considered a hoax, perpetrated by con artists who sought to take advantage of gullible buyers on the black market for arms. There have been reports of "red mercury" on the international black markets since 1979, but the hoax seems to have been most common in the early 1990s, with very high asking prices.

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1. Cinnabar/Vermillion
Cinnabar is naturally occurring mercuric sulfide (HgS), while vermillion is the name given to the red pigment derived from either natural or manufactured cinnabar.

2. Mercury (II) IodideThe alpha crystalline form of mercury (II) iodide is called red mercury, which changes to the yellow beta form at 127 C.

3. Any Red-Colored Mercury Compound Originating in Russia
Red can also be used in the Cold War definition of red, meaning communist. It is doubtful that anyone today is using red mercury in this manner, but it's a possible interpretation.

4. A Ballotechnic Mercury Compound Presumably Red in Color
Ballotechnics are substances that react very energetically in response to high-pressure shock compression. Google's Sci.Chem group has had a lively ongoing discussion about the possibility of an explosive form of mercury antimony oxide.
According to some reports, red mercury is a cherry-red semi-liquid that is produced by irradiating elemental mercury with mercury antimony oxide in a Russian nuclear reactor. Some people think that red mercury is so explosive that it can be used to trigger a fusion reaction in tritium or a deuterium-tritium mixture. Pure fusion devices don't require fissionable material, so it's easier to get the materials needed to make one and easier to transport said materials from one place to another.
Other reports refer to a documentary in which it was possible to read a report on Hg₂Sb₂0₇, in which the compound had a density of 20.20 Kg/dm³. It is plausible that mercury antimony oxide, as a low-density powder, may be of interest as a ballotechnic material. The high-density material seems unlikely. It would also seem unreasonably dangerous (to the maker) to use a ballotechnic material in a fusion device. One intriguing source mentions a liquid explosive, HgSbO, made by DuPont laboratories and listed in the international chemical register as number 20720-76-7.

1. A Military Code Name for a New Nuclear Material​This definition originates from the extraordinarily high prices commanded and paid for a substance called red mercury that was manufactured in Russia. The price ($200,000-$300,000 per kilogram) and trade restrictions were consistent with a nuclear material as opposed to cinnabar.

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Contrary to what is being portrayed on social media platforms, red mercury is not a hidden treasure but a source of countless rumors and myths that have persisted for decades. Though it is shrouded in mystery, with its existence unproven yet, the myths around it have thrived since the Cold War. In a 2019 article, the BBC said adverts and video offering “red mercury” for sale were found online. In 2015, The New York Times Magazine published a long-form report by war correspondent CJ Chivers with the headline: The Doomsday Scam. The New York Times’ story details how the ISIS fighters embarked on the quest to find red mercury.What can be deduced from these articles is that con artists in several countries have used this dubious substance to swindle unsuspecting public. In 2007, scientific journal Science Direct published a research paper titled ‘Analysis of an Object Assumed to Contain Red Mercury’. The study also found no red mercury in the samples the researchers had collected.According to the UK-based risk assessment and intelligence firm S-RM, red mercury is not thought to exist outside of conspiracy theories, though US physicist Samuel Cohen had claimed it existed. Mercury is a substance used to make nuclear weapons. This substance, like lead, can hold a large amount of heat. It is also used for medicinal purposes.In India since September, rumors about red mercury have been spreading through social media platforms and YouTube channels. Claims that it was worth tens of thousands of rupees went viral on Hindi-language websites and digital platforms. India’s fact-checking website Factly has debunked the rumor.In Nepal, people have shared photos and text about red mercury on a Facebook group called ‘Nepali Purano Paisa’ which has more than 57,000 users. The Facebook group shares posts about old coins and banknotes. Users have posted photos of a small bottle with red liquid. Various users have said that they have it or are willing to buy it.We spoke to Basant Giri, a scientist at Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences about this. “It looks like a hoax circulating around for decades across the globe,” he told South Asia Check. “There’s no such chemical or material called red mercury.” He said the red colored liquid may just be “red dye” or some mercury compound which does not have “special” price as such. “Rather, most of the mercury compounds are toxic,” he said. “The old electronic devices contain some heavy metals such as lead and others. The heavy metals, which are toxic, can be recycled, but are not preciou

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Contrary to what is being portrayed on social media platforms, red mercury is not a hidden treasure but a source of countless rumors and myths that have persisted for decades. Though it is shrouded in mystery, with its existence unproven yet, the myths around it have thrived since the Cold War. In a 2019 article, the BBC said adverts and video offering “red mercury” for sale were found online. In 2015, The New York Times Magazine published a long-form report by war correspondent CJ Chivers with the headline: The Doomsday Scam. The New York Times’ story details how the ISIS fighters embarked on the quest to find red mercury.What can be deduced from these articles is that con artists in several countries have used this dubious substance to swindle unsuspecting public. In 2007, scientific journal Science Direct published a research paper titled ‘Analysis of an Object Assumed to Contain Red Mercury’. The study also found no red mercury in the samples the researchers had collected.According to the UK-based risk assessment and intelligence firm S-RM, red mercury is not thought to exist outside of conspiracy theories, though US physicist Samuel Cohen had claimed it existed. Mercury is a substance used to make nuclear weapons. This substance, like lead, can hold a large amount of heat. It is also used for medicinal purposes.In India since September, rumors about red mercury have been spreading through social media platforms and YouTube channels. Claims that it was worth tens of thousands of rupees went viral on Hindi-language websites and digital platforms. India’s fact-checking website Factly has debunked the rumor.In Nepal, people have shared photos and text about red mercury on a Facebook group called ‘Nepali Purano Paisa’ which has more than 57,000 users. The Facebook group shares posts about old coins and banknotes. Users have posted photos of a small bottle with red liquid. Various users have said that they have it or are willing to buy it.We spoke to Basant Giri, a scientist at Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences about this. “It looks like a hoax circulating around for decades across the globe,” he told South Asia Check. “There’s no such chemical or material called red mercury.” He said the red colored liquid may just be “red dye” or some mercury compound which does not have “special” price as such. “Rather, most of the mercury compounds are toxic,” he said. “The old electronic devices contain some heavy metals such as lead and others. The heavy metals, which are toxic, can be recycled, but are not preciou