r/BeAmazed • u/himmokala • Dec 15 '24

Science Using red dye to demonstrate how Mercury cannot be absorbed by a towel

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '24

When I was maybe 12 or 13 I dropped the thermometer on the floor and the Mercury came out of course. I don't know how long I sat on the floor rolling it around with my fingers but I was so fascinated by it. I had no idea it was poisonous. I even had it in the palm of my hand rolling it around. 🤦

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u/the-rage- Dec 15 '24

Yeah you’re gonna die

71

u/JHarbinger Dec 15 '24

Yeah man- depending on your age you may only have decades left. I’m so sorry.

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u/DoingCharleyWork Dec 15 '24

I've still got decades of this shit left? Fuck man.

10

u/[deleted] Dec 15 '24

Oh no! 🫣

12

u/Deep90 Dec 15 '24

It actually used to be a thing in science classes where the teacher would pass around mercury for the kids to play with.

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u/Paupersaf Dec 15 '24

How.... Do you pick up a few droplets of a fluid that's on the floor?

16

u/jajohnja Dec 15 '24

It's mercury, it doesn't behave quite the same way water does.
The surface tension is much much higher, so it doesn't just spill and continue spreading until it hits a wall.
Instead it stays together in a puddle, or forms beads.
You can definitely pick the smaller beads up with a piece of paper or something like that.
Maybe with nails if yours are long enough.

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '24

I remember scooping it up with something. I don't remember what it was. A piece of paper or something like that. I don't remember what I used but I put it in my hand and rolled it around. I was so fascinated by it. It wasn't my brightest moment, but I also would have never touched it if I would have known it was dangerous. No wonder my memory sucks at 46.