Collection of Spilled Mercury ALBERT F. McGUINN, S.J. Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mmsachusetts
ANXIETY about spilled mercury and the consequent health hazard is reflected in the several mercury collecting devices that have been described in recent years. Some might dispute whether the health hazard from this source.is as serious as is claimed by experts, but very few chemists would take the chance of daily work in a room where spilled mercury is allowed to remain exposed. For some years I have used an extremely simple and effective device, which was given to me by a dentist, who could not recall where he had learned it. It has not been described nor referred to in recent articles dealing with this topic, and i t might be helpful to those who conscientiously chase every droplet of spilled merz
cury. It may be described simply as a piece of stiff silver foil, cut and shaped in the form of a pointed spoon, I/&" wide, and inserted into any convenient handle. (In a pinch, a spare dime works fairly well without any cutting or shaping, and i t still fits a slot machine.) Before use the silver is rubbed with a little mercury to form a bright layer of amalgam. This amalgam surface is readily wetted by mercury, and a droplet is instantaneously drawn onto the spoon by contact, without any effort of scooping. When a fairly large drop has been collected, it is shaken off into a bottle. IL will even pick mercury from crevices in a wet sink if the particles can be touched by the point of the spoon.
