Supplementary Information Figure S1. Product ion spectrum of m/z 268 (a), and that of m/z 303 (b) recorded by tandem mass spectrometry. A sample of HgCl2 was placed in the source and m/z 268 and 303 ions were mass isolated and subjected to collision-induced dissociation. The relative abundances of the observed fragments are in excellent agreement with the theoretically predicted fragmentation pathways. 1 Figure S2: A HePI mass spectrum recorded from a deposit of pure HgI2 (a), and that obtained from a HgI2 sample exposed to HCl vapor emanating from TiCl3 (b). 2 Figure S3: A time versus absolute intensity plot recorded under negative-ion generating conditions (m/z 20 to 350), upon exposure of a deposit of Hg(NO3)2 to a HePI source. The sample was inserted at the beginning of the experiment, and at 0.9 min it was exposed to HCl vapor emanating from a TiCl3 vial. The insert shows a mass spectrum obtained by summation of mass spectral data between 0.9 to 1.3 min, and subtracting background data obtained before the exposure to HCl vapor. 3 Figure S4: (a) Time versus absolute intensity plot recorded under negative-ion generating conditions upon exposure of a deposit of HgSO4 to a HePI source. After recording background spectra (m/z 50 to 400) for 2.0 min, a sample of HgSO4 was introduced to the source. At 5.0 min, an aqueous solution of NaCl was added to the dry deposit. At 6.50 min sample deposit plate was withdrawn from the source. (b) A mass spectrum obtained by summation of mass spectral data between 3.0 to 5.0 min and subtraction of background data recorded before 2.0 min. (c) A mass spectrum obtained by summation of mass spectral data between 5.0 to 6.5 min and subtraction of background data recorded before 2.0 min. 4 Figure S5: A mass spectrum recorded from a deposit of pure HgS sample exposed to HCl vapor emanating from TiCl3. 5 Figure S6. HePI mass spectra recorded from solid deposits of Hg(II) acetate (a) and Hg(II) trifluoroacetate (b) exposed to HCl vapor emanating from solid TiCl3. 6 Figure S7. (a) A time versus absolute intensity plot recorded under negative-ion generating conditions upon exposure of deposit of HgO to a HePI source. After recording spectra for 1.0 min from HgO, an open vial of TiCl3 was introduced to the source and withdrawn after about 1.8 min. The insertion and withdrawal of the TiCl3 vial were repeated three more times and spectra were recorded from m/z 20 to 450. (b) A mass spectrum obtained by summation of mass spectral data between 3.0 to 3.4 min, and subtraction of background data recorded before the exposure to HCl vapor emanating from solid TiCl3. 7 Figure S8. A mass spectrum recorded from a deposit of pure calomel (Hg2Cl2) under a stream of desolvation gas at 400°C. A very low signal for HgCl2-• was generated from the pristine sample (blackened area and inset); however, upon addition of a drop of H2O2, the HgCl2-• signal intensity increased dramatically, and the HgCl3- signals appeared prominently as well (red). 8 Table S1. Theoretical predictions of Hg-Cl bond length using various basis sets. Method Cl basis RHgCl Error (Å) (Å) Experimental 2.252 B3LYP aug-cc-pvtz 2.298 0.046 M06 aug-cc-pvtz 2.291 0.039 B97D aug-cc-pvtz 2.306 0.054 wB97XD aug-cc-pvtz 2.272 0.020 mPW1PW91 aug-cc-pvtz 2.271 0.019 mPW1PW91 6-311+G(3df) 2.273 0.021 mPW1PW91 aug-cc-pv5z 2.261 0.009 CCSD(T) aug-cc-pvtz 2.274 0.022 CCSD(T) aug-cc-pvqz 2.237 -0.015 Table S2. Geometric and electronic properties of HgCl2 and HgCl2-• Species HgCl2 -• (I) -• HgCl2 (II) -• HgCl2 (III) HgCl2 RHgCl (Å) ClHgCl () Charge QHg (e) Charge QCl (e) 2.261 180.0 1.138 -0.569 Spin density Hg (e) 0.000 Spin density Cl (e) 0.000 Electronic configuration 2.628 180.0 0.610 -0.805 0.920 0.040 Hg: 6s1.35d106p0.1; Cl: 3s2.03p5.8 2.581 140.2 0.590 -0.795 0.972 0.014 Hg: 6s1.25d106p0.3; Cl: 3s2.03p5.8 3.369 45.8 -0.013 -0.493 0.000 0.500 Hg: 6s2.05d10; Cl: 3s2.03p5.5 Hg: 6s0.75d9.96p0.2; Cl: 3s1.93p5.6 All calculations were done using Gaussian 09 [1]. Geometries of all species were optimized by using the mPW1PW91 method, with SDD for Hg [2], and the largest available Dunning’s correlation consistent basis aug-cc-pv5z for Cl. 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