It says it melts at 86°F, so why didn't it melt in his hand? I just used an IR thermometer on my fingers and get 90°F.

>> ^jimnms:

It says it melts at 86°F, so why didn't it melt in his hand? I just used an IR thermometer on my fingers and get 90°F.


It probably would do if he held it for long enough. When you pick an ice cube up it doesn't instantly all turn to water does it, and that's with your fingers 58°F warmer than the melting point of water. The the gallium you'd be barely above the melting point, so heat transfer would be a lot slower and it wouldn't melt, particularly if it was straight out of the fridge.

Wow, I was totally expecting his fingers to melt.

>> ^robbersdog49:

It probably would do if he held it for long enough. When you pick an ice cube up it doesn't instantly all turn to water does it, and that's with your fingers 58°F warmer than the melting point of water. The the gallium you'd be barely above the melting point, so heat transfer would be a lot slower and it wouldn't melt, particularly if it was straight out of the fridge.


No, but ice does melt enough between my fingers that that it becomes slippery and hard to hold on to.

>> ^jimnms:

No, but ice does melt enough between my fingers that that it becomes slippery and hard to hold on to.


Robbersdog49 already pointed out the 58°F temperature difference between the melting point of ice (32°F) and the temperature of your hand (90°F).

To put it another way, when the temperature outside is just a few degrees above 32°F and there is ice or snow out, have you noticed how very long it takes to melt?

>> ^Janus:

>> ^jimnms:
No, but ice does melt enough between my fingers that that it becomes slippery and hard to hold on to.

Robbersdog49 already pointed out the 58°F temperature difference between the melting point of ice (32°F) and the temperature of your hand (90°F).
To put it another way, when the temperature outside is just a few degrees above 32°F and there is ice or snow out, have you noticed how very long it takes to melt?


YEAH!!!!! FOOOD FIIIIIGHT!!!!

>> ^Janus:

Robbersdog49 already pointed out the 58°F temperature difference between the melting point of ice (32°F) and the temperature of your hand (90°F).
To put it another way, when the temperature outside is just a few degrees above 32°F and there is ice or snow out, have you noticed how very long it takes to melt?


Milk chocolate has a melting point about the same as gallium (around 85°F). Because of the close melting point to my skin I shouldn't get chocolate on my fingers when I eat a candy bar, but I do.

>> ^jimnms:

Milk chocolate has a melting point about the same as gallium (around 85°F). Because of the close melting point to my skin I shouldn't get chocolate on my fingers when I eat a candy bar, but I do.


That would be milk chocolate which has been at room temperature, and thus was close to melting point to begin with?
OK then, have you stored milk chocolate in the freezer and then taken it out and held it? It doesn't melt very quickly and doesn't leave residue on your hand from brief contact, does it? But eventually, yes, it will melt in your hot hand. The same as the gallium spoon would if he'd had it in his hand long enough.

Now drink it!!

>> ^jimnms:

>> ^Janus:
Robbersdog49 already pointed out the 58°F temperature difference between the melting point of ice (32°F) and the temperature of your hand (90°F).
To put it another way, when the temperature outside is just a few degrees above 32°F and there is ice or snow out, have you noticed how very long it takes to melt?

Milk chocolate has a melting point about the same as gallium (around 85°F). Because of the close melting point to my skin I shouldn't get chocolate on my fingers when I eat a candy bar, but I do.


Gallium also conducts heat more effectively than milk chocolate so the heat from your hand isn't concentrated in the surface of the metal.

I bet if you rubbed it between your fingers, it would melt a little bit...and if you were to stare at the spoon really funny while you were doing that, people might think you were bending it with your mind .

Do not try to bend the spoon; that's impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth: there is no spoon.

m&ms melt in your mouth

Screw spoons, where's the gallium pickax I can use to murder my boss?

Hah! Part 2 of this experiment is way more awesome, can't believe they left it out in the video.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/adam/images/en/gallium-injection-picture.jpg

So, this guy has a bunch of spoon molds in his fridge or something?

Science. It works.

Here's the making of the spoon. Also pretty cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiAEO_D9rfM&feature=player_embedded