[SteveB]

Hello.

I've been a little paranoid with the sample of mercury I have in an ampoule. Is there a possibility of oxygen seeping through or the argon escaping the ampoule, little by little? The reason I'm concerned is that I don't have a place to keep it in yet. Is there a risk if I keep it on my desk, where I'm at often?

Although, I love looking at it, it's a beautiful liquid metal... can't let it out of my sights.

Thank you,

- Steve

[Borek]

How is the ampoule closed/sealed? Do you keep in the normally ventillated room?

[SteveB]

Forgive me, I hope I understood your question... it's sealed under argon in a vacuum. I got it from smart-elements.com. If it'll leach out, I'll find a proper way to dispose of it... no problem, I'm mostly concerned with my health. I can always get another sample some other time. ..The room is decently ventilated. I wouldn't say there is a draft all the time, though.

Also, for some reason, something feels different after I started handling the mercury sample. I can't put my finger on it, though.

-Steve

[Borek]

As I understand you it is a sealed glass ampoule that can't be open without breaking? Mercury won't diffuse through glass. As long as the glass is not broken you are safe.

Back in eighties I was working with electrochemists working on mercury electrodes and we were working with mercury on a daily basis. We were using fume hoods and tables prepared so that spills can be easily cleaned up, but otherwise there were no other special precautions apart from those that are standard in any lab - ventillation, no eating in the labs and so on. As far as I know of about 50 people involved nobody ever have any health problems that can be traced to contact with mercury.

Note: I am not suggesting mercury is safe. Just don't get crazy over the risks.

[SteveB]

Yeah, it can't be opened without breaking it.

What really bothers me is the mercury vapor... it's not produced in an inert atmosphere, is it?

- Steve

[Alberto_Kravina]

What really bothers me is the mercury vapor... it's not produced in an inert atmosphere, is it?

It is not dangerous if a bit of vapour forms in your ampoule (in the inert gas atmosphere), it doesn't diffuse through glass, and if the ampoule is not broken nothing bad can happen to you

[SteveB]

Thank you for all the help, that reassured things for me.

- Steve

[jdurg]

Just ensure that you have some sulfur powder nearby in case something happens and the ampoule breaks.  (S will bind with the liquid Hg and prevent it from vaporizing, thus making cleanup a lot easier).  In addition, make sure that the mercury isn't in an area where it may be knocked down.  (I.E. on the corner of a desk in a high traffic area).

As has already been mentioned here by others, the Hg will NOT diffuse through the glass.  In addition, while Hg has a high vapor pressure for a metal, overall it's vapor pressure isn't that substantial.  Yes it's significant, but it's not like the vapor pressure of water or alcohol.

[AfromOz]

I NOW understand your concern but there is a bit of paranoia concerning good old Hg!

Jusy be a little bit careful and don't put the ampoule under your pillow.

I used to play with it for hours in my bare hand as a kid.

My samples are just in bottles. With a bit of Parafilm.

Hasn't effgectred mew inn the slihgest. Braaain stilll manaaaginnng to geeet ythrough.

nt  madd ass a haaateetter.

Cheers,

Adam