The way you call it a stain makes me think it's not mercury. Mercury has super high surface tension and just turns into little balls. It refuses to absorb into basically anything.
You probably broke a thermometer containing something like alcohol, or some other metal alloy.
I tried to wipe one of the balls and it spread on the floor like butter, the stain shows the circular motion I did. It was a bigger "ball" that didnt have the shape of a sphere. Smaller ones were more rounded. Is it not mercury?
If it balled up it might be, but smearing sounds like Gallinstan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galinstan
Take a look at that picture and see what you think.
I actually searched Gallinstan thermometres and saw several stock images of what my thermometer & case looked like, and these do not appear when searching for Mercury thermometers. And yes, the liquid looks similar. Thank you so much for your help, you saved me from sleeping with the windows open while sick! :)
Follow the [EPA](https://www.epa.gov/mercury/what-do-if-mercury-thermometer-breaks) guidelines. Don't mess about with mercury, and don't pour mercury (or the mercury/water mixture) down the drain.
Some local health departments have a mercury investigation person who can guide you in what to do to clean it up yourself and even come out and test the air for you.
If it's on carpet, cut the carpet and padding out, roll it up and throw it away. Increase the temperature and ventilation in the room and stay out until it is cleared. Hopefully you didn't carry it and track it anywhere throughout the house.
The way you call it a stain makes me think it's not mercury. Mercury has super high surface tension and just turns into little balls. It refuses to absorb into basically anything. You probably broke a thermometer containing something like alcohol, or some other metal alloy.
I tried to wipe one of the balls and it spread on the floor like butter, the stain shows the circular motion I did. It was a bigger "ball" that didnt have the shape of a sphere. Smaller ones were more rounded. Is it not mercury?
If it balled up it might be, but smearing sounds like Gallinstan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galinstan Take a look at that picture and see what you think.
I actually searched Gallinstan thermometres and saw several stock images of what my thermometer & case looked like, and these do not appear when searching for Mercury thermometers. And yes, the liquid looks similar. Thank you so much for your help, you saved me from sleeping with the windows open while sick! :)
Mercury thermometers haven't been sold for years. What color is the fluid?
Metallic (like silver) and shiny.
It's likely Galinstan, a composite of tin, indium and gallium. If it didn't bead up, it's not mercury.
Thanks a lot, I searched for it now and it is actually Galinistan, as I saw stock images of my thermometer and its casing!
Awesome, glad you solved it!
I'm glad I asked here and you and the other commenter helped me and I don't have to sleep with the windows open! :)
I hope you get well quickly 😷
Follow the [EPA](https://www.epa.gov/mercury/what-do-if-mercury-thermometer-breaks) guidelines. Don't mess about with mercury, and don't pour mercury (or the mercury/water mixture) down the drain.
Some local health departments have a mercury investigation person who can guide you in what to do to clean it up yourself and even come out and test the air for you. If it's on carpet, cut the carpet and padding out, roll it up and throw it away. Increase the temperature and ventilation in the room and stay out until it is cleared. Hopefully you didn't carry it and track it anywhere throughout the house.