Mercury - Tales from the Periodic Table

[@Skizziks_MAD]

Mercury was used as a bearing material in 19th century lighthouses. The whole rotating lens assembly floated in a bath of mercury, only contacting the rest of the mechanism where the drive engaged and at the top to keep it from tipping. These mechanisms were driven by a falling weight or wound spring, so having a low drag bearing saved the keeper a lot of energy winding things up. (Also, when Ron says "minus 40 degree temperatures" that's in C and F scale, as the two coincide at -40.)

[@ronhipschman]

Another interesting application! Thanks for that. It reminds me of the Michelson-Morley experiment which disproved the existence of the aether, and helped prove the special theory of relativity. That one was performed on a huge block of stone floating in a pool of Mercury, so the stone with its interferometer could be smoothly rotated. (Look it up!) I wish I had time to illustrate all the applications! Ron

[@sorushflummi411]

Wow!! Super amazing, detailed and Educational Videos! Thank You :)

[@ronhipschman]

You're very welcome!

[@sydhenderson6753]

Mercury does have an impressive history in science, but alas.

[@brfisher1123]

I’m so glad that we have an easily available low temperature liquid metal called gallium that’s neither horrifically reactive (and super expensive) like cesium nor horrifically toxic like mercury.

[@sydhenderson6753]

Curiously, both eat into aluminum. Ron showed the effects in his video with gallium. I think mercury is banned from airplanes, but I don't know about gallium.

[@ronhipschman]

Here are the regs: www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/173.162 Basically, allowed, but must be packaged properly. Ron

[@sydhenderson6753]

@@ronhipschman Thanks!

[@GoatsOut4Justice]

How would one detox mercury?

[@brfisher1123]

Are you still thinking about re-doing nitrogen? If only they would've let you record your original nitrogen presentation from many years ago, I wouldn't have to ask :(

[@ronhipschman]

Well, I'm not thinking MUCH about re-doing Nitrogen right now. I'm only thinking about moving forward at the moment. But there aren't THAT many interesting elements left, really... Ron

[@sydhenderson6753]

@@ronhipschman The next three are, at least.