Gallium spoon makes for fun teatime prank

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By Matt Mets
Posted 2011/02/27 @ 2:34 am
Category Science

The metal gallium has a low melting point (29.78 °C, according to the material safety data sheet), so a spoon made of it will melt when used to stir a hot beverage. [via Gizmodo]

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21 Responses to Gallium spoon makes for fun teatime prank

David on February 27th, 2011 at 11:46 am said:

Ok – sorry to be the party spoiler here – but I have worked with Ga for close to 20 years in LMIS Ion sources. Gallium is a corrosive and a heavy metal. Read the MSDS: HMIS Health class 3, Shipping hazard class 8 (corrosive). It will corrode aluminum on contact.
I suggest if you are looking for a Madame Curie moment there are several other elements in the periodic table worth trying too (Hg, Pb, As, Ra?). Just please, don’t breed first.

That being said, this video is very very cool. I cant wait to show it to some of my colleagues and especially my Interns. Thx!

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- Dino Segovis on February 27th, 2011 at 1:39 pm said:
  
  Yeah you shouldn’t be messing with Gallium in a prank in my opinion also…… i
  
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Anonymous on February 27th, 2011 at 1:57 pm said:

According to the MSDS gallium can cause “skin rashes and depression of bone marrow function as well as anorexia, nausea and vomiting.” I’ll pass on handling it. I’d be very careful doing this around children who might ingest it.

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- Arizona Coleman on June 24th, 2012 at 4:00 pm said:
  
  all of those are related to long term exposure. it’s not gonna happen by messing with it a few times.
  
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Ryan Wilson on February 27th, 2011 at 2:00 pm said:

No… Gallium spoon does not make for fun teatime prank. God forbid anyone looks at the health effects listed in the very same MSDS you tout. The stuff is not meant to be played with. Its why chemistry teachers aren’t allowed to handle it in high school lab experiments anymore.

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Mats Engstrom on February 27th, 2011 at 3:07 pm said:

Nice effect! Too bad I’ve got an indoor temperature at home that’s hovering around 30-31 C most of the time…. ^_^

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Ren Tescher on February 28th, 2011 at 1:34 am said:

Bismuth melts around 158 F,
but I’m not sure I’d want any in my Earl Grey (even if it is a principle ingredient of Pepto BISMol)

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Martijn Wilkens on February 28th, 2011 at 7:28 am said:

Read the MSDS for Sodium Chloride (table salt!!) You’ll find that causes cancer in animal tests, it’s a skin irritant, when ingested, medical advice should be sought immediately, Reactive with all kinds of metals and oxidizing agents, slightly hazardous in case of skin contact, and a special remark due to adverse effects on human reproductive organs and the list goes on. We’re talking about table salt guys:P They make it sound that table salt is more toxic than gallium.

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- AndrewS on February 28th, 2011 at 10:59 am said:
  
  Well i must be an idiot because alot of that is missing from my salt MSDS.
  I dont understand what your point is, if you are seriously trying to suggest that salt is more harmfull because your datasheet says so.
  If you do the maths it takes a hefty dose of salt to cause serious damage.
  I guess you have never heard of drowning then?
  
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- Alan on February 28th, 2011 at 5:23 pm said:
  
  I’m calling shenanigans. This sounds like one of those myths that shows up in anti-environmental-safety propaganda. The actual MSDS for NaCl does not say that it causes cancer, and even stipulates that it’s not listed as a carcinogen by the State of California (while just about everything else is). Also, in the sections that call for seeking medical advice, it’s exclusively in the context of “if irritation occurs,” and never includes the word “immediately.” In other words, the MSDS for salt is perfectly sensible, as is the much more strongly worded MSDS for gallium.
  
  And, by the way, an overdose of sodium chloride will indeed kill you. Millions of Americans replicate that experiment every year.
  
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- Foooo on August 14th, 2012 at 11:15 pm said:
  
  Are you sure you arent looking at an MSDS for SODIUM, rather than Sodium Chloride?
  
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Martijn Wilkens on February 28th, 2011 at 7:32 am said:

Check the MSDS for table salt (sodium chlorine), its even listed as carcinogenic, and skin contact should be avoided. I suppose if water would not be common, they’d come up with nasty side effects as well.

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- Tim Verstraeten on February 28th, 2011 at 9:31 pm said:
  
  you, my dear friend, are trying to run for a Darwin-award, are you? they used to put quicksilver in thermometers, so what’s all the fuzz about it being toxic. I’d reckon you’d just put some of the good ol’ Hg in someone’s cup as a joke as well
  
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- Anonymous on August 24th, 2011 at 3:23 pm said:
  
  Repeat a lie often enough, and it might just become true. Not.
  
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- Anonymous on August 24th, 2011 at 3:24 pm said:
  
  You are aware you posted that blatant lie twice in a row, aren’t you?
  
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Anonymous on February 28th, 2011 at 10:22 pm said:

Gallium is an ore of lead. Don’t do this where there’s any chance of someone ingesting this metal. Funny for the look n their face? perhaps, until they realize the “spoon” was a toxic metal…

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Anonymous on April 11th, 2011 at 8:11 am said:

you can buy it
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110672255482&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_1204wt_1139

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- Anonymous on August 24th, 2011 at 3:27 pm said:
  
  It’s easy enough to buy. So is chlorine. I know it’s not your point, but some people do seem to think that means it’s “safe” or some junk. Pity that, it’s why everything has to come with “warning labels” these days – ‘cuz everyone assumes they’re being babied. :- No warning = no danger. NOT.
  
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Arizona Coleman on June 24th, 2012 at 3:30 pm said:

haha i can imagine the look on their face when they see the spoon melting. BE SURE NOT TO LET THEM DRINK IT AFTERWARDS! it might be a good idea to boil the cup as well to clean it.

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