Me and my buddies made this stuff back in the 1970s when we were teenagers. The batches we made were bigger and it's a striking reaction to watch. First, copious white ethanol fumes are generated and after several minutes, copious brown nitrogen dioxide fumes are given off. First batch we made was at night in the back yard and we had a kerosene lantern on the table for light and the ethanol plume was ignighted by the lantern. Batch was still good, though.
The hairy stuff on the the foil is not the amalgam. It is Al2O3. Usually the surface of the Al will ooxidize and create a protective layer o the Al wich prevent further oxidation. When you add the Hg the Al dissolves into the Hg wich allows the Al to oxidize with the Air. Al2O3 is not soluable in Hg so it grows on the Hg until actually all th Al in contact with the Hg is oxidized. Nice nice to see it happening so fast it usually takes a while to get started. But I guess an eplosion on the foil helps getting rid if the primary oxide layer
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I am aware. I did a deep dive into this reaction in this video: th-cam.com/video/nfmJ9UUD86s/w-d-xo.html. Due to what was a bit of a surprise reaction, and not wanting to go into too much detail (as it wasn't the focus of the video), I left it simple. If it wasn't for the amalgam that first sets it off, the hairs wouldn't occur. I'm sure you're aware of this.
If it's been in use for a 150 years, how could it only have been analysed 90 years ago? Or was that only the crystal structure that was determined at that time?
In the US it's federally legal if you don't transport or store it. Though they have dinged some TH-camrs calling it "commercial use" which also is licensed.
Question! I have recently purchased silver nitrate! Now beings the silver has technically already been nitrated, can i go from the silver nitrate to ethanol, or do i have to add hno3? What say you?
Silver fulminate is very, very sensitive, and making it is more dangerous than mercury fulminate. It can be done but sorry I won't be able to help you.
@@cranialconstruction2218 no problem! Yes I heard that silver fulminate can actually detonate under its own weight! Damn! So you couldn't mass produce it! Crazy energetics!⚠️🧪⚗🏴☠️
Well, I'm not going to work with mercury anyway, so this is just academic for me. And in case anyone gets any ideas like using a less toxic metal like silver fulminate, that stuff is so sensitive that it's known to detonate while making it when wet and in suspension. So just don't.
Why the hell was your thumbnail in the search results a thumbnail for some Boston based FOX News station. I thought it was a troll, but I see that's not your thumbnail at all.
Thanks for your comment. However, if it wasn't for the already half a dozen videos on TH-cam that show this exact same reaction I might consider it. A couple of those have been posted for many years. The only reason I make something like this is for academic reasons, which I make clear in the disclaimer.
I think it is important to show people what safety precautions are really necessary, as a kid we tried out hand at making assorted explosives and safety was not high on the list of things to consider. only after I read about how unstable it could be did I stop playing with some of the stuff we tried.
Yeah as soon as I saw how much you put on the foil and said you'd hit it with a hammer I cringed. That was probably 600mg. You are lucky the hammer head didn't fly off.
I was well protected but even through the ear protection I could tell it was very loud. I don't think it would have damaged the hammer though as there wasn't a single scratch on it from the hit. Just the pavement got "scratched".
@@cranialconstruction2218 I'm sure you took precautions in case something like that did happen, but it wouldn't necessarily show any damage prior to letting go completely. These are shattering supersonic forces.
This experiment is very dangerous to perform. Please take note.
Brother, can you do a phase 1 study on lead azide? It is said to be the best impact drug currently.
Taking note.
To perform: very dangerous experiment.
Ok Sir, will do
Mercury is such a fascinating element
Sure is!
I love the little hand pointer!
Thanks!
Thanks for showing the crystals under they microscope. They are strange looking crystals, almost "diamond" shaped. Thanks for the demo 👍👍
You're welcome. I was also surprised by their shape. So cool.
Me and my buddies made this stuff back in the 1970s when we were teenagers. The batches we made were bigger and it's a striking reaction to watch. First, copious white ethanol fumes are generated and after several minutes, copious brown nitrogen dioxide fumes are given off. First batch we made was at night in the back yard and we had a kerosene lantern on the table for light and the ethanol plume was ignighted by the lantern. Batch was still good, though.
Нравится как преподносит материал наш друг-как в универе) Все видео смотрю с интересом.Спасибо!
ОО я не один смотрю)
Спасибо! Я ценю хорошие комментарии.
The hairy stuff on the the foil is not the amalgam. It is Al2O3. Usually the surface of the Al will ooxidize and create a protective layer o the Al wich prevent further oxidation. When you add the Hg the Al dissolves into the Hg wich allows the Al to oxidize with the Air. Al2O3 is not soluable in Hg so it grows on the Hg until actually all th Al in contact with the Hg is oxidized. Nice nice to see it happening so fast it usually takes a while to get started. But I guess an eplosion on the foil helps getting rid if the primary oxide layer
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I am aware. I did a deep dive into this reaction in this video: th-cam.com/video/nfmJ9UUD86s/w-d-xo.html. Due to what was a bit of a surprise reaction, and not wanting to go into too much detail (as it wasn't the focus of the video), I left it simple. If it wasn't for the amalgam that first sets it off, the hairs wouldn't occur. I'm sure you're aware of this.
I love this video. The whole thing was so much fun to watch! This is my fav channel! God bless!
Thank you and God bless!
Very Interesting - Thank You !
👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
Really liked the hose pieces that you cut to make a nice holder for the round flask xD
Yeah I was tired of having the round bottom flasks tip over...and break sometimes
@@cranialconstruction2218
Good work bud!
*Obligatory greeting to everyone else on the watchlist
I'm sure I was already on it. We did this in chemistry class back in the 60's, how times change.
Obligatory begging/baiting for likes.
EVERYONE WHO BREATHED IN 2024 CLICK LIKE
We made some in high school, a small amount accidently was painted on the feet of desks in the next class.
Oh gosh...
10:36 -- 7 years ago TH-camr NileRed posted a video "Aluminum and Mercury" which shows the amalgam growing.
Those hairy things on the foil . . now that was unexpected.!!
If it's been in use for a 150 years, how could it only have been analysed 90 years ago? Or was that only the crystal structure that was determined at that time?
Yes, the structure was found years after its initial use.
Beautiful
Accidental discoveries thank you
I like how everything is legal with the name of science 🤓
In the US it's federally legal if you don't transport or store it. Though they have dinged some TH-camrs calling it "commercial use" which also is licensed.
@@GigsTaggart glad to hear that in Africa even water is elegal
Good watch, as usual!
The moment you "weighed out" the dose for the compression test: 😲
Yeah you're right. I should have quit with the amount I had after I removed some.
How long does mercury fulminate stay in a plastic container away from light?
Like all explosive compounds discovered by accident , it was initially called , oh shit .
Jesse, we need to cook something different....
Question! I have recently purchased silver nitrate! Now beings the silver has technically already been nitrated, can i go from the silver nitrate to ethanol, or do i have to add hno3? What say you?
Silver fulminate is very, very sensitive, and making it is more dangerous than mercury fulminate. It can be done but sorry I won't be able to help you.
@@cranialconstruction2218 no problem! Yes I heard that silver fulminate can actually detonate under its own weight! Damn! So you couldn't mass produce it! Crazy energetics!⚠️🧪⚗🏴☠️
Whatever camera you have, it is not auto-focusing correctly. try manual trial and error due to translation error
Mad hatter stuff. Be careful. Not the explosive but the danger of insanity.
Well, I'm not going to work with mercury anyway, so this is just academic for me. And in case anyone gets any ideas like using a less toxic metal like silver fulminate, that stuff is so sensitive that it's known to detonate while making it when wet and in suspension. So just don't.
Don't use nitrile gloves with nitric acid. They catch on fire.
Only with fuming nitric acid. This is only 70%.
Why the hell was your thumbnail in the search results a thumbnail for some Boston based FOX News station. I thought it was a troll, but I see that's not your thumbnail at all.
Yeah...that's weird
Is it really a good idea to show people how to make this?
Aside from the academic perspective, think about it.
Thanks for your comment. However, if it wasn't for the already half a dozen videos on TH-cam that show this exact same reaction I might consider it. A couple of those have been posted for many years. The only reason I make something like this is for academic reasons, which I make clear in the disclaimer.
I think it is important to show people what safety precautions are really necessary, as a kid we tried out hand at making assorted explosives and safety was not high on the list of things to consider. only after I read about how unstable it could be did I stop playing with some of the stuff we tried.
Yeah as soon as I saw how much you put on the foil and said you'd hit it with a hammer I cringed. That was probably 600mg. You are lucky the hammer head didn't fly off.
I was well protected but even through the ear protection I could tell it was very loud. I don't think it would have damaged the hammer though as there wasn't a single scratch on it from the hit. Just the pavement got "scratched".
@@cranialconstruction2218 I'm sure you took precautions in case something like that did happen, but it wouldn't necessarily show any damage prior to letting go completely. These are shattering supersonic forces.
Aluminium+Hg =😂😂😂😂😂😂😂!