What to do if a mercury thermometer breaks?

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Step-by-step instruction.

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The mercury thermometer has broken. What to do?

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Lifehacker has on this topic. Here's the first thing to do.

1. Near the exit from the room where the thermometer crashed, lay a rag soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate or soap-soda solution so that no one would transfer droplets of mercury on the shoes.
2. Move children and animals out of the room and close the door to prevent mercury vapor from escaping into adjacent rooms.
3. Turn off the fan, air conditioner, and underfloor heating if balls of mercury fall on it.
4. Open a window to cool the room. But in any case, do not allow a draft: mercury can scatter throughout the room.
5. Put shoe covers or plastic bags on your feet and rubber gloves on your hands.
6. Protect the respiratory tract. For example, using a disposable mask with gauze embedded inside, dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate.

You are now ready for the mercury removal process. And how to do it correctly - read the detailed instructions on the link above.