Vermilion is synthetic mercury(II) sulfide and that it is very toxic because of its mercury. John has a beautiful red-colored wooden bowl which he acquired it on a trip to China. The name of the red pigment is vermilion and it has been produced for millennia in the Far East from the natural occurring mineral cinnabar (mainly HgS). He was concerned about food poisoning if this bowl is used as a dinner plate. The solubility product of HgS separating into the Hg2+ and S2- ions in water and find its pKsp quoted as 54.2. Based on this information, calculate the number of dissolved mercury(II) ions if the plate holds 0.5 L of water. A second possible reaction might occur which involves the production of dissolved atomic mercury and sulfur. HgS(s) K's p sp Hg(aq) + S(aq) = [Hg] [S]