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Mercury metal

barley81 - 20-2-2012 at 14:15

I recently bought a flask of mercury metal. The seller described it as triple-distilled (dental grade), and it seems full. I'm fairly sure that it's pure.

I might start selling small quantities (apparently amounts <1lb can be shipped with FedEx). Is anyone interested?
EDIT: Shipping only within US

eBay doesn't seem to have it - is that because of its restriction on hazardous goods? Or is that just because nobody wants to sell it?

[Edited on 20-2-2012 by barley81]

neptunium - 20-2-2012 at 14:29

how much would you sale it for? say like a half pound?

Endimion17 - 20-2-2012 at 14:35

A whole FLASK? Whoa.

It's because nobody wants to sell it. It's their preciousssss.

Ramblesthegoat - 20-2-2012 at 14:40

I have had an element collection going for about a month. how much for say, 2oz?

hkparker - 20-2-2012 at 16:14

Well I guess I don't need to wait for your response on facebook.

Holy crap that thing was huge, where did you get it?? I might be interested depending on price.

Endimion17 - 20-2-2012 at 16:20

I strongly recommend taking a few really nice photos of it before you sell it. If you don't have a nice camera or don't have photography skills, ask a friend, hire someone, I don't know. You can make amazing photos with such quantity that are sure to become famous. You could even sell those photos because they're extremely rare.

Funkerman23 - 20-2-2012 at 16:31

How much for 250 mL? XD but in all seriousness Mercury isn't all that commonly used anymore so it is rare to spot outside of the few industries that still use it.That and is it easy to sell but storing and disposing of it is a legal s***storm.we as experimenters only get away with it due to the relatively small amounts used and the very habit of secrecy outside of places like here.

DougTheMapper - 20-2-2012 at 17:24

How much for the pound? With a density of 13.5, a pound comes in at 33.6mL.

Funkerman23 - 20-2-2012 at 17:39

Whoops! that would explain the looks I got the last time I tried to order that much...

Quote: Originally posted by DougTheMapper

How much for the pound? With a density of 13.5, a pound comes in at 33.6mL.

Endimion17 - 20-2-2012 at 17:50

Yeah, I wonder how much for a pound, too...

barley81 - 21-2-2012 at 19:14

@Endimion17:
I'd love to do that, but I'm not willing to pour it all out. I will only transfer small quantities out using a pipette because I don't want to spill any (costly cleanup). It's too risky...

Mercury metal price-list:

1oz - $5
2oz - $9
4oz - $15
8oz - $21
10oz - $30

Shipping costs depend on where you are in the US and is by FedEx Ground. More than 1lb metal cannot ship in the same box. I have to add $ for the container - two nested plastic bottles to prevent spillage. Shipping is expensive nowadays – a hypothetical ground shipment from NJ to Boston costs $11 according to FedEx…

Legal-protection rant:
By purchasing, you agree to hold me harmless for any and all damages that may occur as a result of your handling the mercury. Careful handling is advised, and a little booklet of advice will be included in the package. As you know, the danger is in the vapor. The vapor pressure of Hg at room temp is .001 Torr, which is 12mg per cubic meter. 80% of inhaled vapor is absorbed by the lungs. Therefore, extended exposure to mercury vapor is likely to cause poisoning. Work in a ventilated space that will minimize chance of inhalation. Never heat or react with anything unless you are fully equipped to safely do so. Soluble/volatile mercury compounds are extremely dangerous (e.g. dimethylmercury & death of Karen Wetterhahn). Dispose of waste at a hazardous materials processing facility. I recommend that spills larger than a dime be cleaned up by professionals.

Also, I can’t make any promises on purity of the metal because I lack the ability to test it. Sorry. I do think it’s pure though – the flask was full when I got it from the neon-sign shop. The seller said it was triple-distilled.

Contact via U2U, payment via PayPal.

Have fun and be safe!

barley81 - 22-2-2012 at 19:36

Whoops! Can't edit - sorry for double-posting.
Pricing mistake -

10oz should be $26

(for intermediate amounts, calculate accordingly based on next lowest qty)

1lb is $36

[Edited on 23-2-2012 by barley81]

Nick F - 23-2-2012 at 11:40

Quote: Originally posted by barley81

I will only transfer small quantities out using a pipette because I don't want to spill any (costly cleanup). It's too risky...

Bear in mind that due to its density, mercury has a habit of just falling out of normal pipettes, so be careful when transferring it.

barley81 - 23-2-2012 at 12:49

Quote: Originally posted by Nick F

Quote: Originally posted by barley81

I will only transfer small quantities out using a pipette because I don't want to spill any (costly cleanup). It's too risky...

Bear in mind that due to its density, mercury has a habit of just falling out of normal pipettes, so be careful when transferring it.

That's been inconvenient, but it works if you hold the receptacle right at the flask's top and transfer quickly. Thank you for reminding me.

neptunium - 23-2-2012 at 12:53

just pour it over a tray under the fume hood it aint that bad...

AirCowPeaCock - 23-2-2012 at 13:02

Quote: Originally posted by Endimion17

Yeah, I wonder how much for a pound, too...

That's cool and all, but it doesn't show scale well. I'd like to see your hand by it, or a coin or something.

Bot0nist - 23-2-2012 at 13:06

The 80mm bowl doesn't help with scale? It is in his "does activated carbon absorb ammonia" thread.

AirCowPeaCock - 23-2-2012 at 13:09

Well I know what 33.6 ml looks like, but I just think it would look more interesting--especially to non-chemist-friends

Endimion17 - 23-2-2012 at 13:17

Quote: Originally posted by barley81

That's been inconvenient, but it works if you hold the receptacle right at the flask's top and transfer quickly. Thank you for reminding me.

Have you ever done it? It's so dense it acts as a heavy piston in pneumatic systems. If you bob it, it falls out.
Either plug the hole with your finger or just tilt the pipette so the pressure the metal excerts on the hole gets smaller. I'd do both.
(I'd still pour it in a shallow bucket outside and take some photos of the liquid mirror. Hell, I'd even try to make it spin in a nice round vessel to make liquid parabolic mirror.

Quote: Originally posted by neptunium

just pour it over a tray under the fume hood it aint that bad...

That's ok if he's strong enough to securely tilt a >35 kg heavy bottle at his waistline. I know I'm not, so I'd do it outside with a friend or two.
Also, pouring mercury... bad idea. That shit spurts tiny beads all around, some almost invisible.

Quote: Originally posted by AirCowPeaCock

That's cool and all, but it doesn't show scale well. I'd like to see your hand by it, or a coin or something.

It's a 150 ml crystalizing dish with an 80 mm diameter, the latter is printed on the dish. One pound is 0.45 kg, or a bit over 33 ml. There's more in the dish.

[Edited on 23-2-2012 by Endimion17]

AirCowPeaCock - 23-2-2012 at 13:27

I see that. I was mistaken. I read 80ml.

resveratrol - 23-2-2012 at 16:43

pics or it didn't happen! =P

Mumbles - 24-2-2012 at 11:10

Quote: Originally posted by Nick F

Quote: Originally posted by barley81

I will only transfer small quantities out using a pipette because I don't want to spill any (costly cleanup). It's too risky...

Bear in mind that due to its density, mercury has a habit of just falling out of normal pipettes, so be careful when transferring it.

Agreed. We have more mercury than I care to think about around the lab. I've found one of the easier ways to transfer it is with plastic disposable syringes. You can exert more pressure with them than a pipette bulb. It also seals well to prevent it from dripping out everywhere.

neptunium - 24-2-2012 at 11:33

>35 kg!! oh ok then!
Mumbles is right ! the little plastic syringes work best for quantities under 50ml..

Lithium - 25-2-2012 at 23:11

i wish i could buy some

Panache - 27-2-2012 at 07:33

Quote: Originally posted by resveratrol

pics or it didn't happen! =P

Ha!

barley81 - 27-2-2012 at 13:05

Quote: Originally posted by resveratrol

pics or it didn't happen! =P

Funkerman23 - 5-3-2012 at 09:36

I don't know where you found that flask but God has smiled upon you my very lucky friend.Mooning aside I wonder if any more can be had....

garage chemist - 5-3-2012 at 09:48

You could build your own little chlor-alkali plant with all that mercury.
Or react the sodium amalgam with alcohols to make sodium alcoholate solutions, for organic chemistry like malonate ester alkylation or acetoacetate ester alkylation. Or reduce organic compounds with sodium amalgam in aqueous medium... Lots of possibilities.
Sodium amalgam with 1% Na is solid at room temp already, so reactions with it are always very limited in scale due to the large amounts of mercury required as a carrier for comparatively small amounts of sodium. You could do Na amalgam reductions on a fair scale with your mercury, and quickly "recharge" it by electrolysis.

Endimion17 - 5-3-2012 at 10:33

^^and make a fucking environmental disaster in his backyard before ending in hospital together with his neighbours .

Mercury collection

magnus454 - 13-3-2012 at 19:19

I have a few ounces of mercury myself, although it's a little contaminated, I've been collecting mercury switches from defunct thermostats, scoring a line in the side with a triangle file, breaking the end off the tube, and adding it to a glass reagent jar I have.

MyNameIsUnnecessarilyLong - 13-3-2012 at 21:31

Quote: Originally posted by magnus454

I have a few ounces of mercury myself, although it's a little contaminated, I've been collecting mercury switches from defunct thermostats, scoring a line in the side with a triangle file, breaking the end off the tube, and adding it to a glass reagent jar I have.

A glass reagent botttle, IN TEXAS? *gasp*

Do you have a permit to own that illegal piece of meth-lab grade glassware?!

grndpndr - 13-3-2012 at 22:42

Its a sure thing hard hitting california law banning hobby glassware will make remendous strides against the importation
of crack cocaine, heroin ,maqrijuana and what have you.California citizens can sleep warm/secure in thier beds knowing the state of califirnia Is extremely serious about the plaque of hobby glassware and the flood of illegal drugs it brings to the state.Imbeciles w/o a clue