A kilo of mercury in the microwave

[Treehorn]

What would happen?

[JonnyBoy12]

Nothing at all would happen if you did not switch it on!

[Treehorn]

Okay johnny providing it was a working microwave with a working plug, parts and fuse and it was plugged in, switched on and there wasn't a malfunction with the microwave or an electricity blackout what would then happen to my kilo of mercury?

[Svejk]

Do yer own homework,Horny.

[jomifl]

something bad would happen..microwave self destructs or mercury container melts and mercury escapes or mercury boils and you die. Mercury is dangerous stuff, not to be played with.

[LazyGun]

I would not want to be anywhere near the mercury vapours that would likely form as a consequence of microwaving mercury.

Good luck with finding a kilo of mercury to place in your microwave though :)

[boxtops]

Weird question for a first question............

[RevArkwright]

Just bought 500 thermometers from Argos, will let you know later.

[LazyGun]

heh Rev - hold your breath when you open that door :)

[Baldric]

I'd enlist Granville for that if I was you Rev.

[Khandro]

Early mirrors were made by using mercury, life expectancy for those thus employed was not long, - and they didn't even have microwave ovens.

[stewey]

This thread is as mad as a hatter.

[heathfield]

There's a hint in the last paragraph here...

http://www.howeveryth...g/page1.php?QNum=1412

[a101325]

Mercury is very dense stuff, a Kg is about the same size as a snickers bar.

[Treehorn]

This doesn't seem to be in too much danger, does he?

thetaliesin, aren't you allowed to help people with their homework, yet you can help users with quizes and puzzles? A bit hypocritical isn't that?

"Weird question for a first question" Boxtops what you mean as this is a scientifical question in the science section. Is there a section for new users as i didn't see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5D47nG9k4

[plowter]

I'd guess the mercury would reflect the microwaves. The water in the air would be heated and, in turn, would heat the mercury causing evaporation.

When you open the door of the microwave to find out what happened you would inhale vaporised mercury.

What was the point of this experiment?

[Prudie]

Doesn't any metal in a microwave cause it to short out and crash?

[plowter]

Think metal acts as an antenna causing item to act as heating element.
Will result in electric arc/sparks. This will cause a dielectric breakdown of air.
Should result in formation of ozone and nitrogen oxides. Both of which are unhealthy in large quantities.

Wonder how the lad got on with his experiment?

[Svejk]

Horny, who said I help people with qs' & ps'. If you don't do your homework you'll never end up clever, like what I is.

[Svejk]

Good point, very well put about new users though.

[deggers316]

when we were kids we had some loose mercury and used to play with it rolling in our hands, (in the 50's)i did this for years never harmed us ,and talk about over the top some silly nurse drop and broke a thermometer with mercury inside it and the whole hospital ward was evacuated lol we couldn't even see it on the floor, silly woman "evacuate" Jesus !