How to dispose liquid mercury

[iWish]

I discovered a bottle of liquid mercury in an old garage. It weighs about 2 kgs and is contained in a glass bottle mixed with water. Obviously the mercury is just sitting their at the bottom.

I have know idea what to do do with it. Any advice?

 

[Speedster]

I discovered a bottle of lead in an old garage. It weighs about 2 kgs and is contained in a glass bottle mixed with water. Obviously the lead is just sitting their at the bottom.

I have know idea what to do do with it. Any advice?

Take it to your local angling shop.

 

[FNfal]

mercury ?

 

[iWish]

mercury ?

Tah. Yes liquid mercury.

 

[Speedster]

Tah. Yes liquid mercury.

Wasn't it lead a few hours ago?

 

[Mux]

Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80.
Lead (/ˈlɛd/) is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin plumbum) and atomic number 82

 

[Speedster]

Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80.
Lead (/ˈlɛd/) is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin plumbum) and atomic number 82

Such deep insight

 

[Steamy Tom]

I discovered a bottle of liquid mercury in an old garage. It weighs about 2 kgs and is contained in a glass bottle mixed with water. Obviously the mercury is just sitting their at the bottom.

I have know idea what to do do with it. Any advice?

how does one just discover such a thing in their garage?

 

[Magnum]

how does one just discover such a thing in their garage?

Tons of it still lying around.

 

[Moosedrool]

You'll have to contact a waste disposal team they normally have a hazardous waste department.

My aunt used to be a chemist so I just gave stuff like that to her and they'll either list it in their waste or use it.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Out of interest why would it be in water?

I recall as a kid we had a sizeable chunk of mercury we played with as well and it didn’t seem to bother anyone.

Of course it was all over when someone dropped it and it split into millions of little pieces and attached every little metal filing you didn’t even know was there.

 

[SauRoNZA]

how does one just discover such a thing in their garage?

The 80’s weren’t that long ago.

You’ll be amazed what you find has been hoarded in garages as I recently discovered moving my parents’ house.

 

[Moosedrool]

The 80’s weren’t that long ago.

You’ll be amazed what you find has been hoarded in garages as I recently discovered moving my parents’ house.

^This

People had all sorts of surprising stuff from uranium coated glassware to toxic materials.

 

[Segg]

If you're in Joburg I'll gladly take it off your hands

 

[iWish]

If you're in Joburg I'll gladly take it off your hands

I’m in Pretoria

. Picking this stuff up now I just realised it’s weighing a lot more than I thought. I’d say 5 to 6 kgs.

 

[Willie Trombone]

I discovered a bottle of liquid mercury in an old garage. It weighs about 2 kgs and is contained in a glass bottle mixed with water. Obviously the mercury is just sitting their at the bottom.

I have know idea what to do do with it. Any advice?

Liquid mercury? Mixed with liquid water?

 

[SauRoNZA]

I’m in Pretoria

. Picking this stuff up now I just realised it’s weighing a lot more than I thought. I’d say 5 to 6 kgs.

Jeez that is a **** load.

And yes the weight is surprising every time for the volume.

Still wonder what the water is meant to do.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Out of interest why would it be in water?

I recall as a kid we had a sizeable chunk of mercury we played with as well and it didn’t seem to bother anyone.

That explains things

 

[SauRoNZA]

That explains things

Ha ha. It probably does.

But I recall it’s only harmful if ingested?

 

[Willie Trombone]

I’m in Pretoria

. Picking this stuff up now I just realised it’s weighing a lot more than I thought. I’d say 5 to 6 kgs.

Please be super careful with that jar... Don't carry it around.