this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2024
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Probably because they didn't know WHICH type of mercury you had. Organic mercury can kill on touch with a single drop. Best not to take chances.
I had to search for "organic mercury", it's dimethylmercury and it doesn't look like mercury at all. Do people really call it "mercury" or "organic mercury"? It's on par with pounds as a measure of mass, weight, and force by the amount of confusion, I'd say ๐ค
::: spoiler sad story that was in the top of search results about dimethylmercury:
sad but also a bit ironic fate ๐ซก that's why I prefer not to do dangerous things even when protection and/or safety is in place.
No, I doubt it. There aren't very many uses for dimethylmercury due to its potential lethality. I would assume the people who actually use it in a lab setting are going to call it dimethylmercury, especially considering organic mercury usually refers to methylmercury, or one of the other less harmful organomercury compounds.
I think the confusion probably stems from the original article about the scientist who passed. Dimethylmercury is made from a reaction of methylmercury, and they are both organomercuric compounds.
And currency!
Forgot about that, this certainly ~~adds insult to an injury~~ spices it up
Yeah. Elemental is mostly harmless if you aren't around it for long and don't inhale vapors.
Source? I'm not sure who to believe. People on the internet who claim it's safe enough that you can pick it up or people on the internet who claim kills you if you touch it.
I'm not going to go swimming in a mercury pool any time soon either way.
I think they are saying it depends what you mean by "mercury" because some compounds are both toxic and readily absorbed through the skin.
Exactly that. Elemental mercury (ie: the liquid metal form) doesn't readily absorb through the skin. It gives off vapors which are harmful with extended or repeated contact, but generally it's not super dangerous to be around.(Not totally safe though)
Organic mercury compounds (eg: methylmercury) are extremely toxic because they can be absorbed through the skin, and can traverse the blood brain barrier
Regular liquid mercury is relatively safe to handle, but I would still wear gloves. It won't get through undamaged skin, but is dangerous if you have even a small skin laceration it can get through.