> I remember holding it in my bare hand in chemistry lab (encouraged by the teacher).
At a (not so remote) time, students used to put their hands into mercury to demonstrate that it is liquid but not wet.
At a (not so remote) time, students used to put their hands into mercury to demonstrate that it is liquid but not wet.
Elemental mercury is usually quite harmless if touched or swallowed.
It is so thick and slippery that it usually falls off your
skin or out of your stomach without being absorbed.¹