r/BeAmazed 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

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u/ministerforcats Dec 15 '24

Monkey brains says don’t take the chance

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u/Cabbage_Corp_ Dec 15 '24

It can probably go into cuts on your hands though

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u/SpemSemperHabemus Dec 16 '24

It's not the liquid, it's the vapor. Mercury has a super low vapor pressure. You want really good ventilation (ie a fume hood) when playing with the stuff. Poor guy is burning holes in his brain.

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u/HarkonnenSpice Dec 15 '24

That's good to know I remember playing with a jar of it with my bare hands as a kid. It's very fun/cool if not for being so dangerous.