13 Jan
2006
13 Jan
'06
5:38 a.m.
C Fernandez wrote:
Chuck Guzis wrote:
I guess I don't understand. I thought mercury was mercury.
Chemically, a metal behaves very differently when in a compound. Sodium
metal has a tendency to react violently with water. A chunk will fizz
violently. Ground sodium in cold water will explode, due to the higher
surface area. However, if you compound it with chlorine, you get
ordinary table salt, necessary for life.
Peace... Sridhar
From
everything I've read, inorganic mercury as well as the elemental
metal are far less dangerous.
Cheers,
Chuck