Re: Amalgam in a vacuum

From: Clinton C Zimmerman (clintonz_at_prodigy.net)
Date: 11/18/04 

Date: 18 Nov 2004 04:05:26 -0800

"carabelli" <huerter@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message news:<zQUmd.925631$Gx4.887062@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>...
> "Clinton C Zimmerman" <clintonz@prodigy.net> wrote in message
> news:a4025728.0411171721.40e0fbfe@posting.google.com...
> > "carabelli" <redslaz3@att.net.not> wrote in message news:<2hNmd.30306
> >> > were no air.
> >> >
> >> > Note that Carabelli states the vapor pressure will be higher, but to
> >> > have more pressure you need more Hg atoms to come out of the amalgam
> >> > which is supposedly inert.
> >>
> >> Examination under 1 atmosphere of pressure in argon or some other inert
> >> gas
> >> would eliminate the O2 and the issues raised using a vacuum.
> >>
> >> carabelli
> >
> > But the vapor pressure due to Hg is not the same because the inert gas
> > will contribute to the equilibrium pressure.
>
> Precisely my point, most amalgams are spending their life under 1 atmosphere
> of pressure. Notice I've been nice and not referred to a mercury barometer
> yet. ;-) This would eliminate oxidation yet mimic normal conditions minus
> O2.

I'm not sure what you are getting at. In a U shaped barometer
with a vacuum there is still a vapor pressure in the vacuum part. If
the pressure increases the vaporized Hg atoms in the vacuum also have
the opportunity to recombine with the liquid which is one side whole
side of the (relatively) small sealed area. What if the sealed side
(vacuum part) where extended infinitely high or a heated drop of hg
where placed in space.

Obviously determining the vapor pressure of amalgam in air is
straightford,
just measure it.

There also is no guarantee that the Hg emission rate from an amalgam
would increase in space. That would depenend on the physics of how
Hg redistributes itself just below the surface, which isn't really
understood.

> >
> > Suppose a heated amalgam was placed in an infinite vacum (space).
>
> You were the last person I thought would make fun of Jan's head.
>
> What
> > would
> > be the rate of Hg release compared to an amalgam in an argon gas
> > chamber at 1 atmosphere?
>
> Infinite vacuum - most
> Confined vacuum - more
> Unconfined 1 bar - some
> Confined 1 bar - less
> confined or unconfined 1 bar + inert gas - dunno
>
> carabelli

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