Oxide Aluminum with Mercury:A Popsci Experiment

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    Aluminum Oxidation
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around an experiment involving the use of mercury paste to accelerate the oxidation of aluminum, as described in a Popular Science article. Participants explore the chemical interactions between mercury and aluminum, the resulting color of the oxidation products, and the implications of the reaction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that mercury infiltrates aluminum, disrupting its protective aluminum oxide layer, which allows for accelerated oxidation.
  • Another participant suggests that the dark color of the "rust" may be due to the formation of a mercury-aluminum alloy, which could be oxidized, separating aluminum to react further.
  • A different participant questions the duration of the reaction, arguing that the mercury paste should be depleted quickly, yet the oxidation appears to continue for hours.
  • One participant proposes that mercury acts as a catalyst in the reaction, implying it remains unreacted after facilitating the process.
  • Another participant expresses curiosity about the unusual color of the oxidation products, indicating a desire to test the reaction despite concerns about mercury's toxicity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the role of mercury in the reaction, its potential as a catalyst, and the reasons behind the color of the oxidation products. No consensus is reached regarding these points.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the mechanisms behind the oxidation process, the longevity of the reaction, or the specific nature of the products formed. There are assumptions about the behavior of mercury and aluminum that remain unverified.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in chemical reactions involving metals, the effects of catalysts, and the properties of mercury and aluminum may find this discussion relevant.

mrjeffy321
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I saw this arcticle on popular science's web site:
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/how2/article/0,20967,693558,00.html

it tells about a way using mercury paste to make aluminum rust, very fast and crumble to dust.

as you can see in their picture, it apearently is true, and as they explain in the article, the mercury infiltrates the metal and disrupts its protective coating of aluminum oxide, allowing it to oxidize much more compleatly then normal, because its protective barrier is gone.

if you look at the "rust" around the base of the aluminum bar they destroyed, it looks dark brown or black, which seems odd to me, considering aluminum oxide is while, mercury is silver, and aluminum is silvery. aluminum oxide is extreamly stable and wouldn't want to normally react with the mercury, so why is all that stuff brown? mercury oxides are that color (HgO is yellow or red and Hg2O is black) but why would the mercury be reacting with anything in this instance?
 
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Mercury is greyish black, and amalgams may differ in color. In here, I think the mercury-aluminum alloy (an aluminum amalgam) is quickly oxidized. It "separates" some of the aluminum to react, I think.
 
but the paste you put on the surfave of the aluminum can only be put on so thick, and then once it is used up (fairly quickly I would think if the mercury goes directly into the aluminum-mercury allow) then it should stop, fairly quickly. but this seems to go on for hours, or longer it didnt say, and keeps going, I would think the mercury would have long been used up if that is the case.
 
I'm pretty sure mercury is just acting as a catalyst and remains free after the reaction.
 
O, but that doesn't explain the weird color of the "rust" shown in the picture anyway.

O well, that would be a cool reaction to test if, at least, mercury wasnt so blooming deadly.