Aluminum and Mercury

When mercury is added to aluminum, it forms an amalgam (a mercury alloy). Aluminum is normally protected by a thick oxide layer, but the formation of the amalgam disrupts it. It allows fresh aluminum to react with air to form white aluminum oxide. As the oxide grows, it forms as these cool white fibers.

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Nile talks about lab safety: https://youtu.be/ftACSEJ6DZA

Chapters:
00:00 - Why You Can't Bring Mercury on a Plane
00:20 - Setting Up The Reaction
01:49 - Run 1: It Looks Alive!
04:21 - It Still Grows...
05:15 - Run 2: It Looks Different Every Time
06:38 - Inspecting The Aluminum
07:06 - Practical Uses For This Reaction

Music in credits (Walker by SORRYSINES): https://soundcloud.com/sorrysines/walker