A Thermogravimetric Study of the Stability and Reduction of the Precursors for Mercury-Based Superconductors. -The suitability of Ba2Can-1CunO2n+1+δ (n = 1, 2, 3) powders, prepared by the sol-gel method, for the production of Hg-based high-Tc superconductors is evaluated by the title study. Calcination of the precursors with n = 2 and 3 under vacuum conditions leads to a reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I). During vacuum annealing of Ba2CuO3+. delta. in the temperature range 820-930 • C, however, Cu(II) is reduced to metallic Cu which complicates the synthesis of high-purity HgBa2CuO4+δ. The different behavior is discussed in terms of the decarbonation temperature of CaCO3. -(KAREIVA, A.; Thermochim. Acta 298 (1997) 1-2, 155-159;