#80, good 'ol Hg: When you find 1 lb of mercury in the glovebox

[deckeda]

The tiny plastic bottle was very dirty. I'd saved it from the trash (appeared in a truck we bought last year) because I was intrigued by whatever could be so HEAVY in such a small bottle. Some kind of lead? (Not that it would have been any "better" to discover.)

So yeah its labeled as mercury from some smelting place, and on the earth911.com site there's no disposal less than 2 states away. Each displays an icon for a "mail-in program," but who's gonna allow mercury to go through the freakin' mail?

I've got it in a ziplock bag with some kitty litter even though the bottle doesn't appear to be leaking.

How's your Monday going?

[freeradical]

I bought a large mercury thermometer a few years ago.

It came through the mail.

The danger of mercury is overrated. It's only truly directly dangerous in its organic forms. Ask the Japanese about this.

[GGD]

I wonder if some school science department would want it. I seem to recall it being a common thing in science/chemistry classes in high school, but that was back before they took all the fun out of these things.

[JoeH]

As already said, mercury goes through the mail system all of the time. It just needs to be properly packaged to take into account the density so that it will not "punch" through the container. In other words you can't pack it like Amazon.

If you can get some, a batch of sulfur powder would be better than the kitty litter if the plastic bottle should leak.

[mrbigstuff]

Whoa. Cool if not freaky.

[Thrift Store Scott]

JoeH wrote:
As already said, mercury goes through the mail system all of the time. It just needs to be properly packaged to take into account the density so that it will not "punch" through the container. In other words you can't pack it like Amazon.

If you can get some, a batch of sulfur powder would be better than the kitty litter if the plastic bottle should leak.

Yeah, I was thinking that if it broke all you'd have is mercury with some kitty litter dust stuck in it. I seriously doubt kitty litter would absorb the mercury at all because of the mercury's thickness and high surface tension, but I might be wrong.

[deckeda]

I read it's "safe" drink it. Why or how, I don't know. One site said you're in trouble when it vaporizes, another said that only happens at hundreds of degrees. I'm not looking to make this a research project, nor a science project unless hey! you can suggest something cool that's not a thermostat and requires glass blowing.

OK so if it's no big deal to mail I'm guessing spills / skin contact aren't dangerous?

I thoroughly washed my hands (FWIWI) after learning what it is ... just wish I could remember to do that after slicing up fresh jalapeños.

[MrNoBody]

My dad had a little, thick walled bottle of mercury in his woodshop.
It was the size of an 2oz iodine bottle.
Man was that sucker heavy. Have no idea why he had it. (WW2 left over?)

[deckeda]

Thrift Store Scott wrote:

Yeah, I was thinking that if it broke all you'd have is mercury with some kitty litter dust stuck in it. I seriously doubt kitty litter would absorb the mercury at all because of the mercury's thickness and high surface tension, but I might be wrong.

Forgot about surface tension. So things like baking soda or flour are also out.

Obviously I'm ignoring all concerns about acidity and alkalinity, to say nothing of 7th Grade chemistry. . That being said I'm a fan of baking soda and vinegar for light cleaning.

[deckeda]

MrNoBody wrote:
My dad had a little, thick walled bottle of mercury in his woodshop.
It was the size of an 2oz iodine bottle.
Man was that sucker heavy. Have no idea why he had it. (WW2 left over?)

Original truck owner did some farming, his nephew we bought the truck from did not. I have no idea. I'll ask my father in law.