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Fatherly hazing
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 07 May 2024
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My high school chemistry teacher told me that when he was in university, they'd send the frosh chem majors down to the depot to get a "bucket of mercury". The depot guys would be in on it and fill up a bucket and laugh at them while they struggle to move it. Even a small bucket would weigh something like 200 lbs.
That seems a bit much for a prank since mercury is a toxic substance.
Not long ago they didn't care so much about that. He also talked about how they'd play with it with their bare hands. He's not dead because mercury is only toxic when ingested.
Edit: in retrospect, he is dead. I forgot that cancer got him a few years back and that high school was 30 years ago...
He’s not dead because he absorbed so much chemicals over the years it all cancelled out. Those tech room uni workers are supermutants. That’s why you are so scared of them instinctively when meeting one for the first time.
Doesn't it give off toxic vapors?
I'm not an expert, but from what little I remember: mercury doesn't immediately kill you like other poisons. What it does do is build up in your body until it hits a tipping point and starts causing problems. Your body has no way to process or get rid of it. Which was why accumulations of it in seafood was a big deal because eat enough of it, even in tiny amounts over a long time, and it starts to mess you up. The amount of mercury that you would be exposed to by breathing near an open source would be minimal I imagine. Or something like that. Like I said. Not an expert. Better to just stay away from it entirely, I'm sure.
Ah, I see.
You meant he didn't die immediately from touching it.
I misread that.
Mercury boils at 356.7©
How much is that in ™?
45/79^™
Yes, but every liquid has a vapor pressure because some moleciles always evaporate - else anything wet would never dry unless heated to water's boiling point.
For mercury it's fairly low at room temperatures but because it accumulates in the body, frequent exposure to unsealed mercury is harmful.
Doesn't it get absorbed?
As I understand it, the danger is the vapour. It boils at a high enough temperature that it's supposed to be safe for handling.
My chem teacher played with it with his hands. Wouldn’t let us tough it and said it was toxic so he immediately washed his hands.