My dad didn't tell me about this when he gave me a bunch of mercury to play with when I was about 7. I definitely would have tried it. I had about 100 cc of mercury, and a basically open-ended supply of aluminum. He did tell me that I probably should not swallow any of the mercury, but that was the only caution he provided.
...and Adam and Eve did eat of the forbidden fruit and they did realise they were naked and Adam did say unto Eve, "Stand back. I don't know how big this thing is gonna get." - Spike Milligan
What's bothering you about it? It's just an oxidation process from the resulting aluminum-amalgam (amalgam because it's a compound containing mercury). The interesting part about it is how the crystalisation occurs at 90° to the aluminum surface, similar to other metal processes. There's lots of cool stuff to discover in chemistry/material-science
Not better watermarks. watermarks ruin videos. We need better people the don't crop off watermarks or remove source information and better image/video hosts that don't re-encode and strip all sourcing meta data. This is exactly what meta data is for.
It's like ash, has no strength or rigidity left and just hasn't actually fallen apart. A few drops will turn an unopened can of soda into a very weird balloon thanks to the plastic liner.
Your parsing is incorreft, it's a list with an ellipsed statement. They had: [no idea this was a thing], and [definitely not a serious concern for aircraft].
The defense was sorely needed. That was one of the most poorly written, unintelligible posts I've ever read! I suspected that that was what you meant, but your failure to defend yourself negated the suspicion.
Aluminum oxide does have its uses, but probably not when it was uncontrollably formed and tainted with mercury, i suppose its not just oxide but also some amalgam of mercury
I'd assume there's *some* way to separate them back out, but it probably starts with melting it all down. Given aluminum's high melting temperature, that *may* not be economically worthwhile. (While I suspect the temp for this amalgam is lower than pure aluminum's, that may not be enough to actually separate the metals.)
oh shit, I didn't even think about mercury's *boiling* point! a quick google shows that it is, indeed, far below aluminum's melting point... so, yeah, definitely additional concerns besides just the temperature...
FetteredJuvenescence
TIL mercury gives aluminum an erection.
SolKargin
Those two really don't like eachother
tinyfootprints
My dad didn't tell me about this when he gave me a bunch of mercury to play with when I was about 7. I definitely would have tried it. I had about 100 cc of mercury, and a basically open-ended supply of aluminum. He did tell me that I probably should not swallow any of the mercury, but that was the only caution he provided.
andrewrlong
Quick, hide this from the TSA - mercury's about to go full metal gymnast on aluminum's dance floor! Science: 1, Safety Regulations: 0.
stouffer
...and Adam and Eve did eat of the forbidden fruit and they did realise they were naked and Adam did say unto Eve, "Stand back. I don't know how big this thing is gonna get."
- Spike Milligan
GpaSags
Needs an edit set to "Also Sprach Zarathustra"
beastiebunny
So, is that how Superman's Fortress of Solitude was built?
GizliBiraz
This is CGI right? Please tell me this is CGI. I am way too high to comprehend this mostrosity if it's not CGi.
dreikommavierzehn
What's bothering you about it? It's just an oxidation process from the resulting aluminum-amalgam (amalgam because it's a compound containing mercury). The interesting part about it is how the crystalisation occurs at 90° to the aluminum surface, similar to other metal processes. There's lots of cool stuff to discover in chemistry/material-science
sellingmysoulforupvotes
Forbidden Cotton Candy
karvec
Forbidden cotton candy
randomguy365
Are you happy to see me or is that aluminum and mercury in your pants?
newnhb
mikeatike
Not gonna credit the sauce @op? It's NileRed.
Merisiel
The towers of Carcosa rise behind the moon
toddthewraith
gallium is also a fun one. transforms aluminum from a solid metal to a brick with the consistency of a wet box of tissues and it just disintegrates.
RoutemasterFlash
'Weird' Al
thedudeman519
That Mimic Tear is going haywire
BeardOnTheInside
I had to look it up. Apparently Aluminum Amalgam has uses in chemistry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_amalgam
iamlegendinjapan
Chemical metal embrittlement
SorryButMyUsernameIsUnavailable
Peffse
NileRed needed better watermarks. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrdYueB9pY4
ElectricGears
Not better watermarks. watermarks ruin videos. We need better people the don't crop off watermarks or remove source information and better image/video hosts that don't re-encode and strip all sourcing meta data. This is exactly what meta data is for.
Filanwizard
Imgur app needs its video tool back that grabbed the full width of a video leaving the “channel bug” intact.
mikeatike
Also op cropped out the chemical reaction equations. Shame on op.
hatsuseno
Source is NileRed on youtube, chemistry channel. If you ever wondered how to turn vinyl gloves into grape soda, that's the place.
hanniballectern
That really looks like it should have sound.
QtheM
Neat! Now do Gallium!!
DeamgonDork
So that's how the Effiel tower was made!
Zuegma197777
Oui.
mrsparkle001
Are you aluminum? Because you’re making my mercury rise
ButtonsAreForPushing
What it feels like to chew 5Gum. Well, if your mouth was aluminum and the gum was mercury for some ungodly reason.
oldguyexlurker
Well... if your braces were aluminum and an old-style thermometer were to happen to break while taking your temperature, this could get ugly.
guardian19d
If we have enough of both, we can grow buildings instead of building them. I sometimes like to live in the fantasy that my mind creates.
Coolmikefromcanada
would be nice, unfortunately mercury and aluminum alloy has the strength of wet rice paper
itsallaboutthecones
Me too, I just wish you would think a little less about how hot your third grade teacher was. It's getting a little old disturbing.
Raziel420
It's like ash, has no strength or rigidity left and just hasn't actually fallen apart. A few drops will turn an unopened can of soda into a very weird balloon thanks to the plastic liner.
skipweasel
This is why mercury isn't allowed on aeroplanes - whole airframes have been written off because of spillages.
zombiebatman
A lot of people blame the mercury but that’s because of the demons in the aluminum. You can see them escaping in the video
lujotu
It's so nobody looks at you and cripples your soul
umpbumpfizz
Fascinating. I had no idea this was a thing, and definitely not a serious concern for aircraft.
artie500
You had no idea it's a thing, but you're certain that it's not serious? What an asshole pronouncement!
NoNameFred
Your parsing is incorreft, it's a list with an ellipsed statement. They had: [no idea this was a thing], and [definitely not a serious concern for aircraft].
umpbumpfizz
Thank you for the defense friend!
artie500
The defense was sorely needed. That was one of the most poorly written, unintelligible posts I've ever read! I suspected that that was what you meant, but your failure to defend yourself negated the suspicion.
sixtyfortysoo
I could probably google but can't be bothered, but does the reaction remove the noxious quality of the mercury?
atrielienz
I was wondering if the reaction continues until all of the available aluminium is consumed.
ForceKinTim
It stops, but the damage seeps much further into the aluminium which seems intact, turning it extremely brittle
Schmapplesauce
Until either of the necessary components of the reaction is depleted, one would imagine.
gradeD
Definitely not unfortunately
sixtyfortysoo
Thank you
ToSisPoS
So no aluminium/mercury sno-cones? Did we lose a war?!
BarnegatLight
I was wondering if the aluminium is at all usable afterward or it just gets sent to the landfill.
ShiftingPattern
It's ruined. The mercury prevents the aluminum from forming a protective oxide layer, keeps it exposed so it oxidizes endlessly.
BarnegatLight
That's sad!
Z0op
Aluminum oxide does have its uses, but probably not when it was uncontrollably formed and tainted with mercury, i suppose its not just oxide but also some amalgam of mercury
solarshado
I'd assume there's *some* way to separate them back out, but it probably starts with melting it all down. Given aluminum's high melting temperature, that *may* not be economically worthwhile. (While I suspect the temp for this amalgam is lower than pure aluminum's, that may not be enough to actually separate the metals.)
johnson442
Vaporized mercury in the wild is widely considered to be a *very* bad thing.
solarshado
oh shit, I didn't even think about mercury's *boiling* point! a quick google shows that it is, indeed, far below aluminum's melting point... so, yeah, definitely additional concerns besides just the temperature...