# When in the \*hell\* will kids learn mercury is not a toy? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 7, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146 "2003-10-07T20:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/41 "2003-10-08T04:48:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apricot \* > \*\*You just don’t want the liquid stuff hanging out in the heat registers, releasing vapor into the air the same kids breathe over and over, day after day. It’s the vapor that’s deadly. > \*\* It is indeed the vapor that’s dangerous, but mercury readily vaporizes to a dangerous degree at room temperature. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@Dave\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_D)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/42 "2003-10-08T05:48:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by leenmi \* > \*\*long term exposure to mercury is harmful. Short term exposure will probably not do any damage. > \*\* Maybe one of the physicians on the board can confirm what I’ve heard are the short term affects of ingesting it. If I remember correctly if you drink some elemental mercury it will act as a very good physical laxative. ---
**Author:** ![Extraneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@Extraneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Extraneous)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/43 "2003-10-08T06:07:56Z")
Mercury is neat. I’m glad I came form an unenlightened age when kids could get away wirh chasing a bit of it around the lab table _in class!_ (of course, I live in a house with lead-based paint, and flaking asbestos - and still ticking) ---
**Author:** ![Apoptosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Apoptosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apoptosis)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/44 "2003-10-08T06:36:29Z")
Hey **danceswithcats** , Funny story about picric acid. The chemistry building of my old university was found to contain a bunch of picric acid sitting on a shelf since god knows when. As there was a sufficient quantity to destroy the entire building, the bomb squad was called in. They took it out to a nearby field and detonated it. What they didn’t realize was that the site they chose was situated directly over a water main. Hilarity ensued. -Apoptosis ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/45 "2003-10-08T08:19:43Z")
When I was in junior high school, the teacher passed around a little vial of mercury that we were allowed to play with, as long as we only rolled it around inside the vial. I was left pretty bitter at the universe, which creates something so darned pretty and then doesn’t let you touch it. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/46 "2003-10-08T08:59:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ferret Herder \* > \*\*To answer the question in the subject, perhaps after they get a proper education in science. In high school, I certainly knew that shiny liquid metal = mercury = dangerous. \*\* Yeah. My chemistry teacher told us that if a mercury thermometer broke, to “leave the room quickly.” ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/47 "2003-10-08T09:06:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*Yeah. My chemistry teacher told us that if a mercury thermometer broke, to “leave the room quickly.” \*\* That’s paranoid nonsense. I’ve broken a mercury thermometer, played with the mercury for hours, preserved it in a little vial, and then played with it again on more than one occasion. I’m alive, healthy, intelligent and drop-dead gorgeous. So there. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/48 "2003-10-08T09:52:26Z")
Yeah, well, he was a Ph.D, so I think I’ll trust his opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/49 "2003-10-08T10:43:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cerri \* > \*\*Who the hell doesn’t know what mercury is?? \*\* It is **extremely** dangerous, because it is the innermost planet of our solar system and is very hot. If only people would just leave it alone! What? ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/50 "2003-10-08T11:53:57Z")
Why, my mom used to float my cradle in a basin of mercury and I turned out GREAT. Between that and those awesome tasty potato chips I peeled off the windowsill… ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/51 "2003-10-08T12:01:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*Yeah, well, he was a Ph.D, so I think I’ll trust his opinion. \*\* I’m not saying he’s wrong, or that mercury is a safe, harmless element. I’m saying that “Eek! The thermometer broke! Run! Run for your lives!” is just a tad bit alarmist. i’m sure you know that a PhD does not automatically imply infallibility. And **Mangetout** , that was _horribly_ good! _thoroughly amused_ ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/52 "2003-10-08T13:10:16Z")
We played with mercury all the time when we were kids. Children’s chemistry sets came with a vial full of the stuff. Great fun. And it won’t hurt you unless you snort it for long periods of time. Mmmm…mercury… ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/53 "2003-10-08T14:34:57Z")
Now I want to play with mercury. ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/54 "2003-10-08T14:50:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bongmaster \* > \*\*You know, mercury IS pretty cool when you look at it from a certain point of view… (Bongmaster scuttles out of view dragging 3rd appendage) \*\* Stop bragging ---
**Author:** ![Blackclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Blackclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackclaw)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/55 "2003-10-08T14:50:34Z")
When I was a kid I always wondered what it would be like to try and walk on a swimming pool filled with Mercury. Could you do it? ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/56 "2003-10-08T19:10:57Z")
John Varley wrote a story on that, _Retrograde Summer_. It featured a large pool of mercury on Venus. You didn’t walk or swim, you just glided around on your belly. They had a large boulder floating out it the middle to jump off of, and the vapors made pretty colors. (You had to have your null suit on though) I got to play with mercury, but I never succeeded in silvering the penny. It just slid right off. What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/57 "2003-10-08T19:42:31Z")
My high school science teacher gave us mercury to _take home_, for crying out loud. Is it really necessary for schools to possess this stuff? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/58 "2003-10-08T19:47:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slortar \* > \*\*Why, my mom used to float my cradle in a basin of mercury and I turned out GREAT. Between that and those awesome tasty potato chips I peeled off the windowsill… \*\* Paint chips? Hah! We used to _dream_ of eating paint chips. Why, we had to eat molten lead for breakfast, and we loved it. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/59 "2003-10-08T20:50:57Z")
My Dad was a dentist and used mercury to mix with some other metal to make an… um… amalgam? for fillings. We (my brother and me) got to play with it all the time! Well, not all the time. But a few times! It was cool. I don’t remember when I learned that it was poisonous. Maybe when I heard about mercury poisoning from shellfish. You people have enlightened me that the vapor is the dangerous stuff. I don’t think I have any dain bramage. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146/60 "2003-10-08T21:05:53Z")
My Dad was a dentist and used mercury to mix with some other metal to make an… um… amalgam? for fillings. We (my brother and me) got to play with it all the time! Well, not all the time. But a few times! It was cool. I don’t remember when I learned that it was poisonous. Maybe when I heard about mercury poisoning from shellfish. You people have enlightened me that the vapor is the dangerous stuff. I don’t think I have any dain bramage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-the-hell-will-kids-learn-mercury-is-not-a-toy/206146.md?page=4)