• Question: are there any common elements that should never mix or come into contact with each other

    Asked by anon-227008 to William, Thibaut "Tibo", Harry, Georgia, Emily, Aimee on 10 Nov 2019.
    • Photo: Georgia Orton

      Georgia Orton answered on 10 Nov 2019: last edited 10 Nov 2019 11:40 am

      Normally elements join together to make bigger particles called molecules. There are definitely some molecules that are better if you don’t mix them!
      For example Caesium reacts VERY violently with water (Google a video of this, it’s quite impressive)!
      I often work with organolithium reagents which set fire in air because they react with oxygen. I have to handle them under argon gas so they don’t set fire!

    • Photo: Aimee Egglestone

      Aimee Egglestone answered on 11 Nov 2019:

      There’s actually quite a few, but it depends what you’re worried about.

      Certain household products, for example, can form toxic gases when they are mixed. Some metals can explode or go on fire when in contact with water. Some of them just look really creepy when they react (eg,Hg(SCN)2, check out https://youtu.be/PC3o2KgQstA?t=430 )

    • Photo: Thibaut Deviese

      Thibaut Deviese answered on 11 Nov 2019:

      Some elements such as lithium, sodium and potassium will ignite if you heat them in presence of oxygen.

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