09-09-2019, 09:13 PM
Mercury in its elemental form is a quite dense, very heavy silvery liquid. It has a high surface tension, so if you were to pour some into a container it is most likely to form little balls of mercury, and is very unlikely to stick to anything. If you were to drink some, it would quickly pass through your system, with little absorption. The problem with it is when it has been (usually bacterially) transformed into its methylmercury form(s). The methyl end is easily absorbed by living systems and therefore lends itself to a pathway for mercury poisoning. Once it enters a living system, it can wreak havoc.
If you think I’m kidding about the “drinking mercury” thing, years ago and before the hazards of mercury were known, a not uncommon prank was to put a few drops into someone’s coffee, and watch the “hilarity” unfold as that unfortunate victim found himself racing to the men’s room with sudden intestinal discomfort. It wouldn’t hurt him, per se, just make him uncomfortable. Of course, this led to all the hysteria involved in eating/drinking near chemistry labs. Yes, I am a chemist; personal responsibility goes a long way when one is working in the lab, and these kinds of pranks will get you permanently banned from the lab.
As far as disposal of small amounts of mercury, you could drop it off at the next hazardous waste day for your community. Make sure you label it as elemental mercury, that way the person working the waste will know which waste stream it should go in. Barring that, and you want to get rid of it, a university may take it off your hands; this route means someone has to pay for the disposal, and heavy metals such as mercury and lead are rather expensive. Some chemistry prof may take it off your hands as it could be used in a display. Every once in a while, some analytical chemistry groups may have need of liquid mercury, depending on the purity, as some forms of electrochemistry use it. Large amounts in a sealed metal container make a good door stop. I’ve personally seen that use.
People tend to freak out, because it’s MERCURY! As long as it isn’t leaking take due care to avoid breaking the container (unlikely as it was in the glove box for how long?). Elemental mercury will react with gold, sulfur, and steel wool, if I remember correctly, as it should wet the steel wool. It does have a relatively high vapor pressure, meaning at room temperature you get about 14 mg/cubic meter. In a closed container (or room) it will come to an equilibrium pressure of 14 mg/cubic meter in the air in that closed container, given enough time. The maximum allowable concentration (per the charts I looked at, Encyclopedia of Metalloproteins, 2013 Edition, Kretsinger, Uversky and Permyakov, Editors) is about 0.1 mg/cubic meters, approximately 0.01 ppm. Yes, it can be nasty stuff. Treat it with the care it is due and you’ll be fine.
If you want, I’ll discuss this with someone I know as to how to dispose of it if none of the above suggestions work.
Diana
If you think I’m kidding about the “drinking mercury” thing, years ago and before the hazards of mercury were known, a not uncommon prank was to put a few drops into someone’s coffee, and watch the “hilarity” unfold as that unfortunate victim found himself racing to the men’s room with sudden intestinal discomfort. It wouldn’t hurt him, per se, just make him uncomfortable. Of course, this led to all the hysteria involved in eating/drinking near chemistry labs. Yes, I am a chemist; personal responsibility goes a long way when one is working in the lab, and these kinds of pranks will get you permanently banned from the lab.
As far as disposal of small amounts of mercury, you could drop it off at the next hazardous waste day for your community. Make sure you label it as elemental mercury, that way the person working the waste will know which waste stream it should go in. Barring that, and you want to get rid of it, a university may take it off your hands; this route means someone has to pay for the disposal, and heavy metals such as mercury and lead are rather expensive. Some chemistry prof may take it off your hands as it could be used in a display. Every once in a while, some analytical chemistry groups may have need of liquid mercury, depending on the purity, as some forms of electrochemistry use it. Large amounts in a sealed metal container make a good door stop. I’ve personally seen that use.
People tend to freak out, because it’s MERCURY! As long as it isn’t leaking take due care to avoid breaking the container (unlikely as it was in the glove box for how long?). Elemental mercury will react with gold, sulfur, and steel wool, if I remember correctly, as it should wet the steel wool. It does have a relatively high vapor pressure, meaning at room temperature you get about 14 mg/cubic meter. In a closed container (or room) it will come to an equilibrium pressure of 14 mg/cubic meter in the air in that closed container, given enough time. The maximum allowable concentration (per the charts I looked at, Encyclopedia of Metalloproteins, 2013 Edition, Kretsinger, Uversky and Permyakov, Editors) is about 0.1 mg/cubic meters, approximately 0.01 ppm. Yes, it can be nasty stuff. Treat it with the care it is due and you’ll be fine.
If you want, I’ll discuss this with someone I know as to how to dispose of it if none of the above suggestions work.
Diana
