Visualization of Mercury vapors in UV light

Toxic mercury vapors are invisible under the daylight but you can clearly see them in the UV.
First part of video recorded under normal light and second part taken under illumination by Mercury resonance line (253.7 nm). Background is a luminescent screen.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• mercury
• vapor
• visualization
• dangerous
• UV
• light
• chemistry

[eutectics]

is the mercury at room temerature? thats pritty scary!

[wwwperiodictableru]

Yes, almost. Beaker was a bit heated in hands.

[davidkennedydds]

Can I use get a high quality copy of your excellent video to use in one or more of my public access movies about mercury poisoned dental personnel?

[wwwperiodictableru]

@davidkennedydds Yes, for sure!

If somebody like to get the original file (but with the name of my web site in bottom the angle) just write me.

[squidwardDK]

Why does the vapour rise? The density of Hg vapour should be 7 times more than air, so why don't the vapours fall downwards? Several people asked this question to the "smoking tooth" video. (Most critical people claim it is just water vapour but I don't belive that.) I am not a chemist or physicist, but am curious to get an explanation.

[Donatello97]

So....Are LCD HDTV's and computer monitors even safe to use considering they contain Mercury in their back lights? Are you being exposed to mercury by having them on, weather you're watching a movie, playing a game ect ect? I can't seem to get a straight answer on this.

[yazidE020991]

thats kill you,now you have mercuri in your head

[squidwardDK]

@iasedu Explanation, please. Is my math wrong, or something else?

[iasedu]

@squidwardDK I would say false, to all that.

[squidwardDK]

@LatestUFOSightings Mercury doesn't kill you, but gives long-term neurological problems. It may even pass to the fetus and make the offspring (you) stupid.

[squidwardDK]

@iasedu If this amount of mercury is spilled it will release 346 milligrams per day, or 3460 microgram/m3/day in the medium-size classroom. 80 % of inhaled mercury is absorbed. And remember, there are much lower safety levels for long-time exposure. Many scientists belive that there is no real safe level, even the slightest amount of mercury is harmful and should be avoided. Given that many things are more fun than Hg play, I'd rather avoid it or strictly use a fume hood.

[squidwardDK]

@iasedu 1 dl of Hg is a lot, but say 15 ml (one tablespoon) would release 4 microgram per second. Playing with mercury for 10 minutes, that is 2400 microgram. In an office-size room of 25 cubic metres, this is almost 100 micrograms per m3. This concentration of 0.1 mg/m3 is actually the US maximum level ('never exceed' level) for work health. In a medium-sized classroom (100 m3) you can play with this amount for 40 minutes before reaching the limit.

[squidwardDK]

@iasedu Sorry if I misunderstand you, but I read your comment as exemplifying. Given your vapour pressure figure is correct, however, it still releases a substantial amount of Hg. 1.9 nanoliter is 27 microgram Hg per second.

[squidwardDK]

@iasedu Thanks. But any calculation is useless if based on unknown factors. Accurate figures are needed. It is well-known that people have become sick with mercury poisoning during the course of weeks after breaking a mercury thermometer on a carpet floor, which is difficult to clean up. According to Wikipedia, a fever thermometer contains 0.5 to 3 g of mercury. Also, the vapour from amalgam fillings is inhaled all the time (and possibly absorbed through other routes aswell).