Sciencemadness Discussion Board

reduction via mercurochrome (Merbromin) / AL

underground - 1-1-2025 at 08:22

I added a random ammount into a water glass with some shredded aluminum foil and let it sit. A minute later a very vigorous reaction began. All al pieces was floating and it was bubbling strong....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merbromin

Can someone pls test this out.

Edit.

I found also another drug containing mercury and that is "mercurius solubilis" It is actualy a solution of diamine mercury nitrate. Strange that there are drugs with mercury... like WT..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p443...

I am pretty sure this would work for reduction with AL foil too.

[Edited on 1-1-2025 by underground]

bnull - 1-1-2025 at 15:51

Quote:
I found also another drug containing mercury and that is "mercurius solubilis" It is actualy a solution of diamine mercury nitrate. Strange that there are drugs with mercury... like WT..

It depends on the country. I could buy merthiolate and merbromin until 20-something years ago.
Quote:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p443...

I am pretty sure this would work for reduction with AL foil too.

I wouldn't be so sure. It's homeopathic remedy (not drug or medication), so there's basically no mercury left in solution after those extreme dilutions, only its "vital force", whatever that means. You may find an atom or two of mercury if you're lucky enough.

The effect with merbromin may be due to amalgamation or a manifestation of the acidic properties of the molecule. If the former, that would be a nice and safe way. I wonder what happens to the rest of the molecule.

underground - 1-1-2025 at 18:23

Considering a relatively small amount of merbromin is used, i do not believe it is going to affect the rxn that much. It has to be studied though. I can still find merbromin locally.

Texium - 2-1-2025 at 07:39

If you ever see a chemical that sounds too cheap to be true and it has that “6C, 30C” etc in the name, you can be guaranteed that it is nothing but water. The “C” nomenclature is homeopath speak for how many times it has been diluted. For instance, 6C means that they started with a 1% solution, then diluted that solution by a factor of a hundred, and repeat that process 4 more times, so that the active agent has ultimately been diluted by a factor of 1006. And that’s the MOST concentrated solution they sell.

underground - 2-1-2025 at 10:01

Quote: Originally posted by Texium  
If you ever see a chemical that sounds too cheap to be true and it has that “6C, 30C” etc in the name, you can be guaranteed that it is nothing but water. The “C” nomenclature is homeopath speak for how many times it has been diluted. For instance, 6C means that they started with a 1% solution, then diluted that solution by a factor of a hundred, and repeat that process 4 more times, so that the active agent has ultimately been diluted by a factor of 1006. And that’s the MOST concentrated solution they sell.


In case of mercurius solubilis its true, you got right, but what about the merbromin solution.

Texium - 2-1-2025 at 11:15

I don’t know, read the label. I think it is usually a 2% solution either aqueous or ethanolic, but it should say on the bottle since it’s actually a real medication.

Ormarion - 4-1-2025 at 09:40

It is usually 2% solution yes, i found long ago a liter of with some vintage pharmacy reagents and it was listed as such

underground - 4-1-2025 at 15:37

Yea it is a 2% solution. It has the ability to activate aluminum just like mercury salts. Ormarion did you gave it a try ?

Ormarion - 5-1-2025 at 05:50

Nop, for obvious reason i dont really like handling organomercury compounds, however if someone have a procedure they want me to try i can post about it if i have time at the lab

bnull - 5-1-2025 at 07:37

One liter of a 2% solution contains about 5.3 g of mercury, assuming all the merbromin reacts. But I wouldn't go so far as to say it activates aluminum. It is possible, if not probable, and more tests are required.

Did you notice any color change or the formation of a precipitate, or perhaps some solid on the surface of the foil? Merbromin could be forming a salt with aluminum.