Mike Tequeli Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 (edited) It could be an alloy of something with Gallium in it, which has a higher melting point but not by a lot. You guys seem a bit harsh though, it probably is some form of liquid or near liquid metal. Mercury in its pure form isn't tremendously dangerous, especially compared with mercury that is soluble in your system. My parents generation played with mercury all the time, no big deal. Found the stuff I'm talking about: Gallistan Look up some videos of Gallium on youtube, it's expensive but looks fairly fun to play with. Edited November 4, 2010 by Mike Tequeli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makeshyft Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 One hell of a massive picture there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshield Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 You're mistaken. The steel beads in the bottom of a glass thermometer are simply added for weight. Again, it wasn't mercurcy spread across your floor; mercury is a liquid and, even if used in your thermometer, used quite sparingly. Steel, you ask? Yes. You could have cleaned the whole mess up with a magnet. i still doubt its steel. they werent rock hard, they were luqidy, almost jello like, whenever i tried catching the bead it "broke" into several smaller beads. Melting point of Mercury is about -38 degrees Celsius. If they were at all squidgy, you're living in pretty much one of the coldest places of earth. Maybe it's actually a bit of T1000! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otter Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 It could be an alloy of something with Gallium in it, which has a higher melting point but not by a lot. You guys seem a bit harsh though, it probably is some form of liquid or near liquid metal. Mercury in its pure form isn't tremendously dangerous, especially compared with mercury that is soluble in your system. My parents generation played with mercury all the time, no big deal. Found the stuff I'm talking about: Gallistan Look up some videos of Gallium on youtube, it's expensive but looks fairly fun to play with. I've never seen a red mercury thermometer. Nor a red "Galinstan" thermometer. There's no reason to have mercury at the "base" of a red-alcohol thermometer, anyhow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Unvirginiser Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 How many opinions is it going to take for you to believe that its not mercury? Haha I love this forum, somebody posts a problem they're conerned about and withing minutes they get decent responses, by people who know what they're talking about. I really wouldn't worry, but if you're still not convinced drop by the hospital or post on yahoo answers/a medical site... or call a helpline like NHS and get their opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K^2 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I've never seen a red mercury thermometer. Nor a red "Galinstan" thermometer. There's no reason to have mercury at the "base" of a red-alcohol thermometer, anyhow. Why are you under the impression that it's an alcohol thermometer? OP described a mercury thermometer, which will produce beads of metalic liquid if broken. Minnie Man, technically, you are supposed to use special chemicals to clear mercury spill. Vacuuming is not guaranteed to get it all, in which case you will be exposing yourself to mercury poisoning over long term. Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner itself isn't guaranteed to contain mercury either. I do believe you made the situation worse. Unless you have some serious reason not to, you might consider contacting your local poison control center. Prior to filing a bug against any of my code, please consider this response to common concerns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otter Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 (edited) I've never seen a red mercury thermometer. Nor a red "Galinstan" thermometer. There's no reason to have mercury at the "base" of a red-alcohol thermometer, anyhow. Why are you under the impression that it's an alcohol thermometer? OP described a mercury thermometer, which will produce beads of metalic liquid if broken. glass thermometer with the red stuff indicating the tepmerature. Edited November 4, 2010 by Otter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of delete key Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 ... Mercury on an aeroplane on the other hand, that's bad. Even the tiniest amount can cause a chain reaction and rot away the aluminium of the plane body rendering the entire thing useless. You, sir, are my hero. Nickel and iron float in mercury. Lead, silver, tin, and gold dissolve in it. Make of it what you will Oh, and it's unbelievable how a communication gap can get stretched like goatse around these forums. "I can just imagine him driving off the edge of a cliff like Thelma & Louise, playing his Q:13 mix at full volume, crying into a bottle." - Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko_Vercetti7 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I heard eating mercury turns you into a superhero. You should try it! I wouldn't recommended that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSiggi Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I heard eating mercury turns you into a superhero. You should try it! I wouldn't recommended that. Wouldn't harm him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTAking33 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 You're mistaken. The steel beads in the bottom of a glass thermometer are simply added for weight. Again, it wasn't mercurcy spread across your floor; mercury is a liquid and, even if used in your thermometer, used quite sparingly. Steel, you ask? Yes. You could have cleaned the whole mess up with a magnet. i still doubt its steel. they werent rock hard, they were luqidy, almost jello like, whenever i tried catching the bead it "broke" into several smaller beads. Melting point of Mercury is about -38 degrees Celsius. If they were at all squidgy, you're living in pretty much one of the coldest places of earth. Maybe it's actually a bit of T1000! I agree with Moon! You may want to leave the house before the rest of the beads find eachother and beware that it can now shape shift in to you! But I agree with everyone else, you don't have anything to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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