Comments on: Nontoxic metal alloy that is liquid at room temperature http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 14:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: airshowfan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510730 airshowfan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510730 Dibs on using this stuff in Bruce Schneier's next movie-plot contest! Dibs on using this stuff in Bruce Schneier’s next movie-plot contest!

]]> By: George William Herbert http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-511803 George William Herbert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-511803 I have a hard time justifying "isn't really toxic" relative to a material that catches on fire on exposure to water. Yes, ok, NaK is not a biological toxin. But neither is Phosphorous or Calcium (both key minerals!) - but I don't recommend eating the metallic form of either. I have a hard time justifying “isn’t really toxic” relative to a material that catches on fire on exposure to water.

Yes, ok, NaK is not a biological toxin. But neither is Phosphorous or Calcium (both key minerals!) – but I don’t recommend eating the metallic form of either.

]]> By: vamidus http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510532 vamidus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510532 It also makes a very attractive coolant. It also can be moved around by magnetic fields. Too bad it's corrosive property and price make it very tricky to implement. It also makes a very attractive coolant. It also can be moved around by magnetic fields. Too bad it’s corrosive property and price make it very tricky to implement.

]]> By: Xopher http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510536 Xopher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510536 Pretty pretty! Sounds like a fun toy. (The 'it' in the title should be 'is'.) Pretty pretty! Sounds like a fun toy.

(The ‘it’ in the title should be ‘is’.)

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510540 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510540 hmmm,. seems to have useful properties for fuzing.. hmmm,. seems to have useful properties for fuzing..

]]> By: ill lich http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510545 ill lich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510545 Nontoxic huh? What does it taste like? Nontoxic huh? What does it taste like?

]]> By: FreakCitySF http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510550 FreakCitySF Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510550 I wish weight was given, so I can shop around, maybe I want to spend less than 50-60 dollars just to experiment with. I wish weight was given, so I can shop around, maybe I want to spend less than 50-60 dollars just to experiment with.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510559 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510559 <quote>Nontoxic huh? What does it taste like?</quote>Chicken. Nontoxic huh? What does it taste like?Chicken.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-511078 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-511078 I used reagent grade gallium as a means of attaching electrodes to large (4mm) single Zinc Sulfide crystals.Indium solder wouldn't wet to the crystals and butyl nitrate based silver electrodes would just peel off. I was advised that gallium was toxic so I didn't play around with it outside of my experiment.I was always of the opinion that very few metals were truly nontoxic and that their oxide coats offered us some protection. I used reagent grade gallium as a means of attaching electrodes to large (4mm) single Zinc Sulfide crystals.Indium solder wouldn’t wet to the crystals and butyl nitrate based silver electrodes would just peel off. I was advised that gallium was toxic so I didn’t play around with it outside of my experiment.I was always of the opinion that very few metals were truly nontoxic and that their oxide coats offered us some protection.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510590 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510590 I dare you to drink it, Non toxic my a$$, Dr j I dare you to drink it,

Non toxic my a$$,

Dr j

]]> By: Gilbert Wham http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510859 Gilbert Wham Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510859 Right, I need a swimming pool FULL of this stuff, stat! Right, I need a swimming pool FULL of this stuff, stat!

]]> By: cognitive dissonance http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510605 cognitive dissonance Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510605 where's the fun in it being nontoxic? where’s the fun in it being nontoxic?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510863 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510863 Nice! I remember playing with mercury a couple times as a kid, and have been saddened that, for entirely understandable reasons, kids today wouldn't be able to do the same. It really changes your perceptions of what it means for something to be liquid (and yet not wetting) and metal (and yet not solid). Even challenging preconceptions about the relationship between density and solidity. So I'm really happy this stuff exists. Nice! I remember playing with mercury a couple times as a kid, and have been saddened that, for entirely understandable reasons, kids today wouldn’t be able to do the same. It really changes your perceptions of what it means for something to be liquid (and yet not wetting) and metal (and yet not solid). Even challenging preconceptions about the relationship between density and solidity. So I’m really happy this stuff exists.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-511387 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-511387 How reactive is this stuff on Aluminum? Are we talking "cola on a human tooth" corrosion or "facehugger blood on a spaceship bulkhead" corrosion? How reactive is this stuff on Aluminum? Are we talking “cola on a human tooth” corrosion or “facehugger blood on a spaceship bulkhead” corrosion?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510620 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510620 If this eats aluminum, I am sure it is absolutely prohibited to bring this on any aircraft. For the same reason it is not generally allowed to bring mercury based thermometers onto aircraft. So beware: don't order this by air mail. You might get in trouble. ;) If this eats aluminum, I am sure it is absolutely prohibited to bring this on any aircraft. For the same reason it is not generally allowed to bring mercury based thermometers onto aircraft.

So beware: don’t order this by air mail. You might get in trouble. ;)

]]> By: Tweeker http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-511644 Tweeker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-511644 NaK is also liquid at room temperature, and isnt really toxic. A bit caustic though, and a tad reactive. NaK is also liquid at room temperature, and isnt really toxic. A bit caustic though, and a tad reactive.

]]> By: overunger http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-511137 overunger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-511137 But which one is the T-1000? But which one is the T-1000?

]]> By: A former race mechanic http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510628 A former race mechanic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510628 20 ºC != -4 ºF 20 ºC = 68 ºF 20 ºC != -4 ºF

20 ºC = 68 ºF

]]> By: wynneth http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-511140 wynneth Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-511140 I may be wrong, but in the 50s didn't they say playing with mercury was safe too?? I may be wrong, but in the 50s didn’t they say playing with mercury was safe too??

]]> By: A former race mechanic http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510631 A former race mechanic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510631 Whoops, gotta pay better attention to those line breaks! Whoops, gotta pay better attention to those line breaks!

]]> By: Wingo http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510632 Wingo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510632 I've played with gallium before. Super fun stuff. They use it in a lab around where I work to simulate the flow of molten iron in the earth's core. Along with giant electro-magnets and sheets of lasers, of course... I’ve played with gallium before. Super fun stuff.

They use it in a lab around where I work to simulate the flow of molten iron in the earth’s core. Along with giant electro-magnets and sheets of lasers, of course…

]]> By: iamanangelchaser http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510892 iamanangelchaser Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510892 Gallinstan is great, but it's pricey compared to mercury and (and this is its biggest failing): it wets glass. Mercury does not. So you can't have a gallinstan thermometer, for example, because surface tension will cause the metal to spread all over the interior of the glass tube. Gallinstan is great, but it’s pricey compared to mercury and (and this is its biggest failing): it wets glass. Mercury does not. So you can’t have a gallinstan thermometer, for example, because surface tension will cause the metal to spread all over the interior of the glass tube.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-511406 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-511406 "Facehugger Blood", thanks, you just gave me a name for my next bottling run! “Facehugger Blood”, thanks, you just gave me a name for my next bottling run!

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510645 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510645 Well, since both of them are injected for nuclear medicine scans, the non-toxicity has millions of case studies to back it up. Well, since both of them are injected for nuclear medicine scans, the non-toxicity has millions of case studies to back it up.

]]> By: jimkirk http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510913 jimkirk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510913 Freaky City, gallium is about 6 grams per cubic centimeter. The vial looks to be about 1 cc, depending on the size of Joel's fingers, so 5 or 6 cc would be my guess. United Nuclear has it 5 grams for $50, 1 gram for $15. http://www.unitednuclear.com/chem.htm. They caution not to store it in glass or metal containers. Besides the corrosive properties, it expands more than 3% when it solidifies, and could shatter the container. Freaky City, gallium is about 6 grams per cubic centimeter. The vial looks to be about 1 cc, depending on the size of Joel’s fingers, so 5 or 6 cc would be my guess.

United Nuclear has it 5 grams for $50, 1 gram for $15. http://www.unitednuclear.com/chem.htm.

They caution not to store it in glass or metal containers. Besides the corrosive properties, it expands more than 3% when it solidifies, and could shatter the container.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510915 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510915 Could it work if you used plastic or siliconized glass to make the thermometer out of? I guess the cost would still make it prohibitive with digital thermometers having gotten so good and so cheap the last few years. Could it work if you used plastic or siliconized glass to make the thermometer out of? I guess the cost would still make it prohibitive with digital thermometers having gotten so good and so cheap the last few years.

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510663 SamSam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510663 @A former race mechanic: -20 ºC == -4 ºF @A former race mechanic: -20 ºC == -4 ºF

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510924 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510924 Gallium is thought to interfere with osteoclast function[1]. As gallium maltolate it is only in clinical and preclinical trials as a potential* treatment for cancer, infectious disease, and inflammatory disease [2]. Just because it; could be? Keep in mind there is no known biochemical detoxification pathways either. With known tendencies to substitute Iron in its binding form? So, Still going to drink it sweetheart? Dr. J http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CDG/content/CDG_gallium_nitrate.asp http://www.hindawi.com/GetArticle.aspx?doi=10.1155/MBD.2000.33 Gallium is thought to interfere with osteoclast function[1].

As gallium maltolate it is only in clinical and preclinical trials as a potential* treatment for cancer, infectious disease, and inflammatory disease [2].

Just because it; could be? Keep in mind there is no known biochemical detoxification pathways either. With known tendencies to substitute Iron in its binding form?

So, Still going to drink it sweetheart?

Dr. J

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CDG/content/CDG_gallium_nitrate.asp

http://www.hindawi.com/GetArticle.aspx?doi=10.1155/MBD.2000.33

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510928 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510928 are these goods magnetic? are these goods magnetic?

]]> By: arkizzle / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/06/04/nontoxic-metal-alloy.html#comment-510935 arkizzle / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-510935 Is this a room-temperature-metals Blog Post Battle? Wow Mark, you should hear the stuff Xeni is saying about you in the other thread.. Is this a room-temperature-metals Blog Post Battle?

Wow Mark, you should hear the stuff Xeni is saying about you in the other thread..

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