From XKCD: https://xkcd.com/2975
this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2025
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Science Memes
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A mixture of mercury and bromine makes for a funny kind of water
Funny "Haha" or funny "Uh Oh"?
The latter. Mercury bromide is highly toxic (I'm pretty sure all mercury salts are highly toxic). Its also a solid, not a liquid.
But mercury and bromine are the only two liquid elements at room temperature in their elemental form, which is why they're "water". One is silver, the other reddish brown and syrupy.
Mercury salts are surprisingly non toxic when compared to organic mercury ☠️
the other reddish brown and syrupy
perfect for pancakes!
Gallium should be water too
Only if your room is really really warm
Or mixed with aluminium
Well, first it’s fire.
Fun fact: did y'all know the Chinese Periodic Table, it has the type of elements built into the chemical symbols as the radical?
Like: 气 Air, 氵 Water, 石 Rock, 钅Metal
'Rockium' ? 'Airium'? How ridiculous!!!
Look at western periodic table: lithium, hydrogen, helium...
Mmmh OK then
All proper names are just old/dead/foreign language for the thing.
hahah
Everything changed when the fire elements attacked.
Needs some saddam
It's not 9/11!
Duuuudeee
This comment scared the shit out of me...
My wall-clock was broken, and I looked at my phone and said to my partner "it's not 9:11" and then five SECONDS later I got the notification from you "it's not 9/11".
That is fucking weird...
We just vibin'. :)
I love this kinda shit
It's just 9:33
I'm not sure how to feel about the fact that I can't look at an image anymore and not find some way to interpret the vague shapes as Saddam Hussein.
What about sub elements?
You have metal and earth, and then metalloids.
Elements with a lot of alpha or beta emissions are lighting.
Some ~~Earth benders~~ Geologists can manipulate metal tho.
What would be wood?
Earth? Wood comes from trees and other plants that both grow from the earth, and decompose back into the earth.
But they grow of air and water without significantly consuming the earth they grow in.
Yes, but the earth provides many nutrients required that cannot be obtained by air and water alone. That’s why farmers have to rotate crops often.
ah yes, the famous forest rotation
I tried to make a woodchuck rhyme out of that and have linguistically satiated myself
Is that a Captain Planet reference?
Yee
They kept it off so captain planet won't come kick Trump's administration' ass. Just a guess.
Sulfer should be labeled "hell".
is it just me or does it look like Susan Juan hiding spot?
edit: swipe to type let me down but it's funny so I'm keeping it
fire ntion attack
If "Fire" is supposed to represent radioactive elements, quite a few corrections would be necessary.
Other than that, nice concept.
Personally I think mercury is more of a 'wet earth' hybrid element.
Toph metalbends mercury, so it's definitely earth.
Barracuda would probably be in Water.
Quicksilver and brom if I recall correctly.
also beryllium should be candy element.
Ok, where are the fucking magnets
classical elements refers to mechanical properties (solid, liquid, gaseous), it does not refer to chemical elements.