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GB ENDED Updates to come as soon as I receive a timeline from my supplier.
The Multi-Element GB has started! *To all that participated in my last GB, enjoy your gallium! *To those who didn't, here's your chance to obtain gallium and many other spectacular elements as well.
Since the gallium GB went so well, I have decided to hold another GB, this time with more elements! *I can also include other elements upon request by PM. *Prices will be as follows:
-Gallium: $2.50 per gram
-Indium: $1.00 per gram
-Bismuth: $1.75 per troy ounce (1 troy ounce=31.1 grams), or $18.00 per pound
-Tin: $1.50 per troy ounce, or $16.00 per pound
-Tungsten: $4.00 per troy ounce
-Cadmium: $0.05 per gram
-Selenium: $2.00 per gram
-Tellurium: $3.00 per gram
NOTICE: Some of these elements are toxic (cadmium, selenium, and tellurium). *I cannot take any responsibility for consequences resulting from improper use of these elements. *These are sold as research samples only.
Now, with the boring legal crap over with, here's some interesting facts about these elements:
Gallium: Melts at about 30*C (85*F). *This means that you can melt it in your hand! *I have also succeeded in melting it with my laser. *Gallium is loads of fun, like any liquid metal should be, but it is nontoxic (unlike mercury). *Gallium readily alloys with many other metals, and a combination of gallium, indium, and tin can produce alloys that are liquid at room temperature and below. *Also, blu-ray diodes, blue diodes, and green diodes would be impossible without gallium. *It is an amazing metal!
Indium: Also has a fairly low melting point (156*C), which can be achieved over a stove or campfire. *Indium is very, very soft. *It can be cut with a butter knife and scratched with fingernails! *Indium can also be formed into "crying bars", which are thin bars of metal that make a crackling, squeaking sound like it is tearing apart when you bend it. *Very interesting. *Indium is also quite nontoxic.
Bismuth: The highest atomic number (83) that is not radioactive. *Bismuth can be formed into beautiful, rainbow tier-shaped crystals, similar to a Mayan temple in design. *It can be melted over a campfire, or with a propane torch. *Its melting point is 271*C. *Bismuth is used as a nontoxic replacement for lead.
Tin: Quite a bit more interesting than it is made out to be. *Like indium, tin is also fairly soft and bendable, and you can make crying bars out of tin as well. *Tin melts at 232*C, and like the other elements, can be fairly easily melted at home to cast. *Tin is soft, and thin bits of it can be cut off with a knife.
Tungsten: The weight of tungsten is approximately the same weight of gold; VERY heavy. *This means that a small amount of tungsten is surprisingly dense, and very fun to pick up and hold. *The density will amaze you. *Tungsten is used in welding rods, and it has one of the highest melting points of all metals. *It has to be melted and cast using electric arcs.
Cadmium: I'm sure you have all heard of cadmium here on the forums, and doesn't it have a beautiful laser beam? *Scopeguy20 used to make his own gas lasers out of pure cadmium and selenium. *Cadmium is used in paints, lasers, and it also stops neutrons in nuclear energy plants. *Cadmium, while interesting and useful, is also quite toxic, however.
Selenium: As mentioned previously, selenium is used in the production of certain metals. *It is a very interesting-looking element, as it is a nonmetal, yet not a gas. *These elements always fascinate me. *It has a blackish, lustrous appearance, and I have it in the form of small black beads. *Only 25 grams is available. *Selenium is an essential trace nutrient, but its compunds can be highly toxic in quantity. *Be very careful when working with selenium.
Tellurium: This element has a beautiful radiating crystal structure, and I have a very limited quantity; only about 10 grams for sale. *Tellurium, similar to selenium, is very toxic in compounds. *However, there is another barrier; even touching tellurium will cause you to smell strongly of garlic for a week! *Do NOT make direct contact with this beautiful element, tempting as it may seem.
Pictures (taken by Theodore Gray at www.periodictable.com):
-Mark
The Multi-Element GB has started! *To all that participated in my last GB, enjoy your gallium! *To those who didn't, here's your chance to obtain gallium and many other spectacular elements as well.
Since the gallium GB went so well, I have decided to hold another GB, this time with more elements! *I can also include other elements upon request by PM. *Prices will be as follows:
-Gallium: $2.50 per gram
-Indium: $1.00 per gram
-Bismuth: $1.75 per troy ounce (1 troy ounce=31.1 grams), or $18.00 per pound
-Tin: $1.50 per troy ounce, or $16.00 per pound
-Tungsten: $4.00 per troy ounce
-Cadmium: $0.05 per gram
-Selenium: $2.00 per gram
-Tellurium: $3.00 per gram
NOTICE: Some of these elements are toxic (cadmium, selenium, and tellurium). *I cannot take any responsibility for consequences resulting from improper use of these elements. *These are sold as research samples only.
Now, with the boring legal crap over with, here's some interesting facts about these elements:
Gallium: Melts at about 30*C (85*F). *This means that you can melt it in your hand! *I have also succeeded in melting it with my laser. *Gallium is loads of fun, like any liquid metal should be, but it is nontoxic (unlike mercury). *Gallium readily alloys with many other metals, and a combination of gallium, indium, and tin can produce alloys that are liquid at room temperature and below. *Also, blu-ray diodes, blue diodes, and green diodes would be impossible without gallium. *It is an amazing metal!
Indium: Also has a fairly low melting point (156*C), which can be achieved over a stove or campfire. *Indium is very, very soft. *It can be cut with a butter knife and scratched with fingernails! *Indium can also be formed into "crying bars", which are thin bars of metal that make a crackling, squeaking sound like it is tearing apart when you bend it. *Very interesting. *Indium is also quite nontoxic.
Bismuth: The highest atomic number (83) that is not radioactive. *Bismuth can be formed into beautiful, rainbow tier-shaped crystals, similar to a Mayan temple in design. *It can be melted over a campfire, or with a propane torch. *Its melting point is 271*C. *Bismuth is used as a nontoxic replacement for lead.
Tin: Quite a bit more interesting than it is made out to be. *Like indium, tin is also fairly soft and bendable, and you can make crying bars out of tin as well. *Tin melts at 232*C, and like the other elements, can be fairly easily melted at home to cast. *Tin is soft, and thin bits of it can be cut off with a knife.
Tungsten: The weight of tungsten is approximately the same weight of gold; VERY heavy. *This means that a small amount of tungsten is surprisingly dense, and very fun to pick up and hold. *The density will amaze you. *Tungsten is used in welding rods, and it has one of the highest melting points of all metals. *It has to be melted and cast using electric arcs.
Cadmium: I'm sure you have all heard of cadmium here on the forums, and doesn't it have a beautiful laser beam? *Scopeguy20 used to make his own gas lasers out of pure cadmium and selenium. *Cadmium is used in paints, lasers, and it also stops neutrons in nuclear energy plants. *Cadmium, while interesting and useful, is also quite toxic, however.
Selenium: As mentioned previously, selenium is used in the production of certain metals. *It is a very interesting-looking element, as it is a nonmetal, yet not a gas. *These elements always fascinate me. *It has a blackish, lustrous appearance, and I have it in the form of small black beads. *Only 25 grams is available. *Selenium is an essential trace nutrient, but its compunds can be highly toxic in quantity. *Be very careful when working with selenium.
Tellurium: This element has a beautiful radiating crystal structure, and I have a very limited quantity; only about 10 grams for sale. *Tellurium, similar to selenium, is very toxic in compounds. *However, there is another barrier; even touching tellurium will cause you to smell strongly of garlic for a week! *Do NOT make direct contact with this beautiful element, tempting as it may seem.
Pictures (taken by Theodore Gray at www.periodictable.com):
-Mark
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I know its used for thermal contact in TEC setup etc, and is also used to wrap NdYvo4 sets, which I always do with mine. The pieces ive come across and used were already foil type pieces easily cut with an x-acto knife into strips. 
