# Why would a small "bead" of mercury appear in the bowl of my toilet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502 "2009-11-30T18:27:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Composer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@The\_Composer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Composer)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/21 "2009-11-30T19:21:50Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Wouldn’t they be from Mercury and trying to get to Uranus? Neptune has to be a part of this somehow…I’m just not witty enough right now to make it work. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/22 "2009-11-30T19:58:35Z")
> [@The\_Composer](#): > > Occasionally we have noticed a small bead of mercury in the bowl of one of our toilets. It’s only in one specific toilet, not in the others. We don’t have any bowl cleaners, etc., in the tank or the bowl, so I can’t figure out why it’s there. > > Any ideas? 1. Someone dumped mercury in the tank. 2. One of the urchins or a friend has a supply and is occasionally flushing it away. Not all of it goes dow because it’s heavy. Keep this story to yourself. While elemental mercury is not toxic, if the wrong pranoid yuppie mom finds out about it you will be a Superfund site and your toxic home shunned. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/23 "2009-11-30T20:00:56Z")
> [@The\_Composer](#): > > …It behaved as Mercury from a broken thermometer would behave. I could separate it, but individual pieces would fuse if they came into contact with one another. It was very silvery and slippery and hard to get out of the toilet because it would sort of flatten in the water when I was trying to capture it. Call Ah-nold. Sounds like you have a 2nd generation Terminator. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Composer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@The\_Composer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Composer)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/24 "2009-11-30T20:02:43Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > 1. Someone dumped mercury in the tank. > 2. One of the urchins or a friend has a supply and is occasionally flushing it away. Not all of it goes dow because it’s heavy. > > Keep this story to yourself. While elemental mercury is not toxic, if the wrong pranoid yuppie mom finds out about it you will be a Superfund site and your toxic home shunned. I haven’t been able to find anything unusual in the tank. And my kids are 8 and under, so I don’t think they are the culprits. 😉 **TroutMan** : That’s kinda scary…maybe that explains the weird noises we’ve heard occasionally… ---
**Author:** ![Textual\_Intercourse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Textual\_Intercourse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Textual_Intercourse)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/25 "2009-11-30T21:32:03Z")
Have you tried shooting it? I’m almost certain that it would be satisfying to tell your mercury to eat lead. If shooting it doesn’t work, shoot it again. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/26 "2009-11-30T22:09:35Z")
> [@Textual\_Intercourse](#): > > Have you tried shooting it? > > I’m almost certain that it would be satisfying to tell your mercury to eat lead. > > If shooting it doesn’t work, shoot it again. Use silver bullets. Then you can fill cavities with the results. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/27 "2009-12-01T00:12:18Z")
Remove a bead next time, put it on penny, rub it onto the penny and see if it sticks to the copper. I loved to play with the stuff as a kid. Back then thermometers and thermostats were the best places to collect metallic mercury unless one could steal it from a science lab. Now I am quite old and rather grouchy but other than that I don’t know of any ill effects the stuff had on me. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/28 "2009-12-01T00:26:29Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Remove a bead next time, put it on penny, rub it onto the penny and see if it sticks to the copper. > > I loved to play with the stuff as a kid. Back then thermometers and thermostats were the best places to collect metallic mercury unless one could steal it from a science lab. Now I am quite old and rather grouchy but other than that I don’t know of any ill effects the stuff had on me. I crossed the road yesterday without looking and I survived, but I wouldn’t extrapolate from one event to say that doing so is safe. There are plenty of proven dangers from mercury. Don’t play with it and make sure you dispose of it properly. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/29 "2009-12-01T00:47:32Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I crossed the road yesterday without looking and I survived, but I wouldn’t extrapolate from one event to say that doing so is safe. There are plenty of proven dangers from mercury. Don’t play with it and make sure you dispose of it properly. Good advice. I’ve been disposing of mine in **The Composer** ’s toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/30 "2009-12-01T03:21:16Z")
My mother once broke an old thermometer in the bathroom, and occasionally, a small metallic looking bead would appear at the bottom of the toilet. I bet some one broke a thermometer near your toilet at some point in your home’s history. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/31 "2009-12-01T04:45:38Z")
elemental mercury is dangerous as a vapor. so at moderate temperatures it might only be dangerous for long term exposures. ingestion of elemental mercury is not serious, runs right through. skin contact is not serious danger. mercury compounds can be toxic if ingested. it will stick to powered zinc, sulfur or activated charcoal for cleanup. not a plaything. it can become dangerous if uncontained and then might form very toxic compounds. hazardous waste pickup and dropoff programs are the best way to dispose of. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/32 "2009-12-01T04:56:04Z")
You could install a new toilet and see if it goes away. You may even find the source taking out the toilet. As it is, it doesn’t sound unsafe, but it could freak a few people out. IMO, the real issue would be if the mercury were not localized to beads at the bottom of your toilet. You need to be certain that this is not getting into your drinking water. Elemental mercury may have a low toxicity, but it oxidizes easily enough that it’s dangerous. Nine out of ten kids that played with mercury are just fine. (Yes, that’s a made up statistic.) ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/33 "2009-12-01T05:47:40Z")
> [@Textual\_Intercourse](#): > > Have you tried shooting it? > > I’m almost certain that it would be satisfying to tell your mercury to eat lead. > > If shooting it doesn’t work, shoot it again. Fire a warning shot first, just to let it know you’re serious. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/34 "2009-12-01T06:14:40Z")
It will destroy gold jewelry, so don’t let it touch your wedding band. ---
**Author:** ![valleyofthedolls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a4c791/32.png) [@valleyofthedolls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/valleyofthedolls)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/35 "2009-12-01T06:54:51Z")
According to Wikipedia, mercury is used in float valves: > **[Mercury (element)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element))** > > Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum (/haɪˈdrɑːrdʒərəm/ hy-DRAR-jər-əm) from the Greek words hydro (water) and argyros (silver). A heavy, silvery d-block element, mercury is the only metallic element that is known to be liquid at standard temperature and pressure; the only other element that is liquid under these conditions is the halogen bromine, though metals such as caesium, gallium, and ru... Maybe check the float valve in your toilet and see if it’s leaking? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/36 "2009-12-01T08:00:55Z")
> [@valleyofthedolls](#): > > According to Wikipedia, mercury is used in float valves: > > [Mercury (element) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element)) > > Maybe check the float valve in your toilet and see if it’s leaking? A float valve in a toilet is a balloon-type ballcock. It’s not a mercury-containing float valve. ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/37 "2009-12-01T08:01:01Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > Not all of it goes dow because it’s heavy. Would Mercury float? I don’t know enough about the element, but since Hg has a molecular weight of 80, while H2O has a molecular weight of 10, I would assume that Hg in the molecular form would sink, and then be flushed with the rest of the water. However, my only experience with elemental Hg is in broken thermometers in a drawer, I don’t know what its interaction with H2O is in real life. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/38 "2009-12-01T13:09:40Z")
> [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#): > > Would Mercury float? I don’t know enough about the element, but since Hg has a molecular weight of 80, while H2O has a molecular weight of 10, I would assume that Hg in the molecular form would sink, and then be flushed with the rest of the water. > > However, my only experience with elemental Hg is in broken thermometers in a drawer, I don’t know what its interaction with H2O is in real life. This. You guys think mercury is FLOATING on water? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/39 "2009-12-01T14:15:37Z")
> [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#): > > Would Mercury float? I don’t know enough about the element, but since Hg has a molecular weight of 80, while H2O has a molecular weight of 10, I would assume that Hg in the molecular form would sink, and then be flushed with the rest of the water. Actually I think the issue is that mercury is so much heavier that water that it might stay on the bottom of the bowl, and not get carried out when the water flushes. Really weird why mercury might be in the toilet bowl. I’d check it to make sure next time (hopefully using a penny rather than your wedding ring). If it really is, then I’d suggest a) if the toilet tank is separate from the bowl, take it off and inspect things; and b) look again around the house to make sure nobody is playing with/eating a broken thermometer or something. Eight is certainly old enough to play with it, and below that toddlers do like to stick things in their mouths.. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502/40 "2009-12-01T16:18:46Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > A float valve in a toilet is a balloon-type ballcock. It’s not a mercury-containing float valve. I’m going to make a really WAG and say that mercury is not used in the floating portion of the valve mechanism. Wikipedia does indicate that mercury is used in float valves though I can’t find a different source. I’ve no idea if mercury is used in toilet float valves or not, but it would neatly solve the mystery. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-small-bead-of-mercury-appear-in-the-bowl-of-my-toilet/519502.md?page=3)