• model_tar_gz@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Definitely not licking pure lithium, sodium, or any of the alkali (s-block) metals. My tongue is wet. That shit explodes in water, yo.

        • Fermion@feddit.nl
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          3 months ago

          I wonder if you’d get a sort of leidenfrost effect limiting the extent of damage.

          I’m not going to test that though.

          • model_tar_gz@lemmy.world
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            3 months ago

            Mg is an alkaline earth metal, not an alkali metal. :). Still have zero desire whatsoever to eat elemental Mg.

            But I did say s-block didn’t I. That’s on me, I set the bar too low.

            • wolframhydroxide@sh.itjust.works
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              3 months ago

              Yeah, the only reason I replied was because you were responding to the calcium dude above, then said “s-block”. Just wanted to spread the good word of the 9th-most abundant element in the universe 🙏

              • model_tar_gz@lemmy.world
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                3 months ago

                Frankly I’m amazed I even got as much of that right as I did. It’s been more than 20 years since I took a chemistry class—a lot of them—but still. It’s been a minute.

    • wolframhydroxide@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      I have elemental magnesium (4 ~50g ingots, I keep it in my library in a barely-sealed ziplock). it’s shelf stable and doesn’t react violently with water. Want me to try licking it and let you know? (hint: at worst it’ll make a minuscule amount of milk of magnesia)

      ETA: Would I stick my tongue in pyrophoric magnesium powder? No, and you wouldn’t do that with pyrophoric aluminum or zinc powders, either, but that doesn’t stop me from using (or licking) alumnum foil. Proof: https://invidious.darkness.services/watch?v=Q_4I30Nz_b0