reaction

Reactions of the Group 1 Metals

Reactions of the Group 1 Metals

Credit: www.rsc.org

Mercury attacks Aluminum

Mercury attacks Aluminum

A small amount of mercury amalgamates itself into an aluminum I-beam and destroys it from within. Gallium scratched into the surface allows the mercury to penetrate the protective oxide layer that normally surrounds anything made of aluminum. This is a time-lapse video, the action takes about two hours in real time. The powdery oxide is [...]

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