Jump to content

One for the Chemists out there


madannie77

Recommended Posts

As madannie has titled this thread "One for the Chemists out there", apart from me and madannie just how many chemists are there who are members of Sheffield History?

Some of the members user names sound as though they have a chemical twist to them, -

Dick Dioxide?

THYLACINE?

nmr 1?

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance?

...and what about our newest member, just joined today Saturday 5 December 2009, called PALLADIUM-LAD

Is the lad named after the element with an atomic number of 46?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another Periodic Table

This one is an "Atomic Structure of the first 20 elements" Periodic table made as a wall display by my Y10 seperate science (chemistry) GCSE group.

Both the students and myself were quite pleased with it and it certainly helped them learn their atomic structures.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The joys of teaching in this technological age.

This is my chemistry lab from a students viewpoint.

Notice that with computer and "whiteboard" technology that my traditional blackboard has been replaced with a miniature version of the Carlton picture palace, - or possibly the Manor picture palace. lol

Or, depending on what film I am showing (it could be about sex in a PSD lesson), Studio 7 :o

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If, and only if, I was in possession of a small bottle of Mercury (probably around a heck of a lot more than I should have) what would be the correct method of disposal/recycling ? I realise, if I did have such an item (which I may or may not have) that chucking it over the neighbours fence or lobbing it in the bin would not be appropriate.

For legal purposes this is all theoretical of course (at least until I get into the loft) ... probably.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If, and only if, I was in possession of a small bottle of Mercury (probably around a heck of a lot more than I should have) what would be the correct method of disposal/recycling ? I realise, if I did have such an item (which I may or may not have) that chucking it over the neighbours fence or lobbing it in the bin would not be appropriate.

For legal purposes this is all theoretical of course (at least until I get into the loft) ... probably.

Such a quantity of mercury would have to be collected by a spaecialist chemical disposal company according to our CLEAPPS HAZCARDS with safety information and risk assessments on all the chemicals we handle. Again "a small bottle" would be considered quite a large quantity and due to the high market value of mercury it would be recycled / reused rather than disposed of in some way.

Small spillages of mercury have to be sucked up with a pooter. The particular danger with the toxicity of mercury is not the metal itself but the vapour it constantly releases. A spillage breaks the liquid up into small but very mobile globules which collct in cracks and nooks and crannies where they can stay for many years constantly giving off its toxic vapour.

If it can't be sucked up the whole area is treated with flowers of sulphur (or should that be sulfer these days?) to turn the mercury into mercury (II) sulphide which does not vapourise as readily and then swept up into a plastic bag and sealed so that it can again be collected by a specialist disposal company. Old broken thermometers with threads of mercury in them should also be sealed in bags to await the same collection.

I don't think it is illegal to possess mercury as its use was very widespread in the past and there will still be a lot of it lying around in its original use. The problem is its high toxicity.

I have a friend who owns an early 20th century Synchronome Electric master clock controlling 2 slave clocks in his house. The clock, accurate to seconds per year, is controlled by a self compensating pendulum, - i.e., to maintain a constant length of pendulum if the temperature changes, as the pendulum rod expands downwards, the "bob" on the end of the pendulum is a jar containing mercury and the mercury expands upward to compensate the increased length keeping the pendulums time period constant. This swinging jar is a fair size and hold a good amount (and a high value) of mercury. There is nothing illegal about possessing and using this equipment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If, and only if, I was in possession of a small bottle of Mercury (probably around a heck of a lot more than I should have) what would be the correct method of disposal/recycling ? I realise, if I did have such an item (which I may or may not have) that chucking it over the neighbours fence or lobbing it in the bin would not be appropriate.

For legal purposes this is all theoretical of course (at least until I get into the loft) ... probably.

Richard,

Are you, or your "friend" suffering any of the effects of mercury poisoning?

Physical effects are, bleeding gums followed by loss of teeth, sickness, loss of hair and baldness and sexual impotence. :o

Mental effects are loss of memory, confusion, insanity and madness, including a desire to wear a top hat marked up at ten shillings and sixpence to a tea party :unsure:

This is a reference to the "mad hatter" from Alice in Wonderland. Hatters often went mad due to the use of mercury in the hat trade to treat the felt materials.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If, and only if, I was in possession of a small bottle of Mercury (probably around a heck of a lot more than I should have) what would be the correct method of disposal/recycling ? I realise, if I did have such an item (which I may or may not have) that chucking it over the neighbours fence or lobbing it in the bin would not be appropriate.

For legal purposes this is all theoretical of course (at least until I get into the loft) ... probably.

There is some proper guidance for the disposal of mercury here

elemental-mercury.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Richard,

Are you, or your "friend" suffering any of the effects of mercury poisoning?

Physical effects are, bleeding gums followed by loss of teeth, sickness, loss of hair and baldness and sexual impotence. :o

Mental effects are loss of memory, confusion, insanity and madness, including a desire to wear a top hat marked up at ten shillings and sixpence to a tea party :unsure:

This is a reference to the "mad hatter" from Alice in Wonderland. Hatters often went mad due to the use of mercury in the hat trade to treat the felt materials.

Oh No

I think I must have some mercury in the house, I have the symptoms, :angry:

hang on I'm ok I am not loosing my teeth :)

Few that was close lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Richard,

Are you, or your "friend" suffering any of the effects of mercury poisoning?

Physical effects are, bleeding gums followed by loss of teeth, sickness, loss of hair and baldness and sexual impotence. :o

Mental effects are loss of memory, confusion, insanity and madness, including a desire to wear a top hat marked up at ten shillings and sixpence to a tea party :unsure:

This is a reference to the "mad hatter" from Alice in Wonderland. Hatters often went mad due to the use of mercury in the hat trade to treat the felt materials.

I've got all them symptoms plus a few more - thought it down the the uranium 238 we use as a paperweight or the block of boron nitride I use as a toothpick.

Can't say I've seen Mr Mercury for 30 years; assume it's in the loft with the 30 foot mutant spiders that like to cross-dress and tap-dance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've got all them symptoms plus a few more - thought it down the the uranium 238 we use as a paperweight or the block of boron nitride I use as a toothpick.

Can't say I've seen Mr Mercury for 30 years; assume it's in the loft with the 30 foot mutant spiders that like to cross-dress and tap-dance.

Does this explain the taffeta dress

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does this explain the taffeta dress

Indeed it may do; difficult to find in my size though; the Boron Nitride I find quite hard ...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh No

I think I must have some mercury in the house, I have the symptoms, :angry:

hang on I'm ok I am not loosing my teeth :)

Few that was close lol

Yes but the only reason you are not losing your teeth is because your daughter works at a dentists lol

..and you're not losing your eyesight as quick as me because your wife makes a spectacle of herself at an optitians :blink:

The wonders of the NHS :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've got all them symptoms plus a few more - thought it down the the uranium 238 we use as a paperweight or the block of boron nitride I use as a toothpick.

Can't say I've seen Mr Mercury for 30 years; assume it's in the loft with the 30 foot mutant spiders that like to cross-dress and tap-dance.

Uranium 238 is OK

Now, if it was Uranium 235 its mass could be critical and it could trigger a ....

Oh No !!!!

Wallsend and half of north east England has just disappeared! :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've got all them symptoms plus a few more - thought it down the the uranium 238 we use as a paperweight or the block of boron nitride I use as a toothpick.

Can't say I've seen Mr Mercury for 30 years; assume it's in the loft with the 30 foot mutant spiders that like to cross-dress and tap-dance.

So which "Mr. Mercury" is that Richard?

Mike Mercury from Gerry Anderson's Supercar, 1960 - 1962

Mercury from DC Comics Metal Men, 1962 - 1970

Freddie Mercury from the rock group Queen, 1974 - 1992

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Best thing for it !

But the epicentre of the blast appears to be your house :blink:

Are you well insured? :unsure:

Would you be liable for the damage caused to a large part of north east England? :huh:

...in any case, how much is north east England worth? <_<

Perhaps not that much! lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now in Pond Street there used to be, just above the threpeeny bit kiosk what Richard once described as the "pressy button lighty up thigumy map of Sheffield"

In the Science Museum in London they have the "Pressy button lighty up thingumy Periodic Table"

I'm sure Richard would like to have a go pressing the buttons on that. lol

Photo is from October 1970 when me and Stuart and a load of others went on a Norfolk School trip to London organised by Moggy Matthews and so the trip was basically to do with science.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...