Table of Contents
How long does it take for mercury vapor to dissipate?
At room temperature, exposed elemental mercury can evaporate to become an invisible, odorless toxic vapor. This vapor has a very long life (up to one year) in the air.
Is liquid mercury safe to touch?
Mercury is a very toxic or poisonous substance that people can be exposed to in several ways. If it is swallowed, like from a broken thermometer, it mostly passes through your body and very little is absorbed. If you touch it, a small amount may pass through your skin, but not usually enough to harm you.
What if I vacuumed mercury?
Never use an ordinary vacuum cleaner or a shop vacuum to clean up mercury. The vacuum cleaner can heat up the mercury and cause it to become airborne mercury vapor. In addition, the vacuum cleaner will become contaminated with mercury and may continue to release mercury vapor for a long time.
What should you do if mercury is spilled?
Sprinkle sulfur powder over the contaminated area and rub it gently all over the surface and into the cracks with a paper towel. Sulfur powder binds with mercury. Use a paper towel dampened with water followed by wiping with another damp paper towel to clean up the sulfur and mercury.
At what temperature does mercury vaporize?
356.73 °C
Properties of Mercury The only other element that is liquid under these conditions is bromine, though metals such as caesium, gallium, and rubidium melt just above room temperature. With a freezing point of −38.83 °C and boiling point of 356.73 °C, mercury has one of the narrowest liquid state ranges of any metal.
What temperature does mercury become a vapor?
Mercury evaporates to some extent even at room temperature: Vapor pressure: 0.002 mm Hg at 250C (~300 K). “Although the vapor pressure of elemental mercury is low [at room temperature], an atmosphere that is fully saturated with mercury vapor contains approximately 18 mg/m .
How long does it take to clean up a mercury spill?
bag and the trash bag double wrapped in another trash bag. If the spill occurred on a hard surface, such as a counter or non-carpeted floor, the mercury probably shattered into tiny beads and spread in many directions. window open for at least a few hours, 24 – 48 hours would be best.
What happens if you spill mercury in your house?
Shut all doors to other parts of the house, and leave the area. Call your local or state health or environmental agency for help. If more than two tablespoons of mercury are spilled in your house, you are strongly urged to call the National Response Center (NRC), available 24 hours a day, 1-800-424-8802.