# Buying chemicals **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 30, 2000, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-chemicals/20923 "2000-05-30T19:33:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flypsyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Flypsyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flypsyde)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-chemicals/20923/1 "2000-05-30T19:33:06Z")
What credentials, if any, are required to buy, say, 12 ounces of mercury? And on a related note, how much exposure is needed before mercury poisoning has any noticeable effects? How long does it take to soak into the skin? ---
**Author:** ![BigJoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@BigJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigJoe)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-chemicals/20923/2 "2000-05-30T19:49:01Z")
IIRC Mercury causes nerve damage in very small amounts. I’d recommend not touching it at all. So are you wanting to cook up some fulminate or poisoning your mother in law? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-chemicals/20923/3 "2000-05-30T20:15:07Z")
Flyp, I don’t like that look in your eye! ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-chemicals/20923/4 "2000-05-30T20:29:20Z")
Or maybe amalgamating gold? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-chemicals/20923/5 "2000-05-30T20:51:08Z")
Flyp you sneaky devil…did you start a GD thread on the ethics of his action? what about a rant in the Pit? ---
**Author:** ![Flypsyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Flypsyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flypsyde)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-chemicals/20923/6 "2000-05-30T20:53:58Z")
SSSHHHHH!!! Dammit, Omni, you’re going to give it away. And I wouldn’t say there’s any “ethics” to it at all. So, can I buy quicksilver on my own, or do I have to get a Chem teacher to buy it for me? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-chemicals/20923/7 "2000-05-30T22:03:20Z")
From [http://www.goodfellow.com](http://www.goodfellow.com) - A British company. > [@](#): > > A UK Government export licence may be required for some items to some destinations. If the item you require needs a special export licence or an end-use statement we will inform you at the time you order. [Mercury Technical Data](http://www.goodfellow.com/scripts/web.wl?MGWLPN=MNT&PROG=TECHD&token=ZkxGLOnu2i1Iskdn&CAT=HG006700) [Mercury Prices](http://www.goodfellow.com/scripts/web.wl?MGWLPN=MNT&PROG=HTITEM&token=HcLuEg3RlGARYSzc&ITE=HG006700) (It’s expensive!) Let me try to dig up some info from an American company. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-chemicals/20923/8 "2000-05-30T22:23:30Z")
Here’s a U.S. company in Evanston, Ill that specializes in mercury and mercury compounds. No word on sales or shipping restrictions, though. [http://www.dfgoldsmith.com/](http://www.dfgoldsmith.com/)