[Portomar1970]

So I have a chemistry project that is due in 3 weeks in which I was given an element (mercury) to research and give a report.

That is the easy part. The hard part is trying to come up with a creative way to use mercury and incorporate it into a Christmas project.  I was thinking of doing a DIY ornament and spray painting it to make it look like mercury or a vase, but to me that is just not creative enough. I really would like to incorporate a thermometer (since that uses mercury) but have no idea how to make it look "Christmassy". Any creative ideas out there??

Thanks
Stella

[Arkcon]

Really?  Nothing says Christmas to me more than a blob of toxic metal.  You can't spell Christmas without "environmental catastrophe."  (I rely on a spell checker alot, cause I can't spel)  This is a tough project, maybe you should talk to the other high school students.  The one who got iron probably has some simple ideas, but the one who got fluorine is probably pulling their hair out.

[Vidya]

So I have a chemistry project that is due in 3 weeks in which I was given an element (mercury) to research and give a report.


Thanks
Stella

First try to get more knowledge about metal Hg ....start from here.Do you think is it advisable to use Hg 
in open environment?

[Enthalpy]

Some switches have their contacts wetted by mercury in order to last longer. You could search for such a switch and if you still find one, let flash a Christmas string of fairy lights.

Some Reed switches and other relays have "wetted contacts"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_switch
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relay#Mercury-wetted_relay
http://www.globalspec.com/ds/4384/areaspec/features_mercury_wetted_contacts

As a fundamental advantage, such switches or relays keep their mercury in their hermetic glass package.

[Enthalpy]

A "creative way to use mercury", well... Wetted contact relays are almost as old as electricity.

Same objection for fluorescent light bulbs, which use mercury and could have illuminated a crib. Or they could polymerize momemethylmethacrylate (MMA) as a protective cover on a drawing of Santa Claus.

The best way to play with mercury without getting intoxicated is probably to use a mercury compound, less volatile and less toxic. Apparently, the project doesn't ask for elemental mercury.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merbromin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalgam_%28dentistry%29
find some original use of them?