Mercury - all from childhood familiar substance in a thermometer.Scary poisonous and dangerous to life and health metal silver-white liquid at room temperature.Another medieval alchemists tried to turn this unusual substance into gold.
At school, the lessons in chemistry, we learn about the periodic system, where Hg - is the element with atomic number 80. Now this flowing metal known since ancient times, not bad studied.Whatever property of mercury is not interested layman, learn more about it will not be easy.For example, it colorlessness in pairs, the boiling temperature, compressibility, etc.
In the early 90-ies of XX century reverberated throughout the rumors about the creation of an entirely new species of this metal.The subject of gossip became red mercury, more substance RM 20/20, allegedly produced in the secret research laboratories of the USSR.People's faith in the reality of this substance supports all new stories and scandals related to its sales.The mythical red mercury cost fabulous money.Sellers requested per 1 kg of 300 to 400 thousand dollars.
and willing to pay such sums are, especially in the West, which at that time was still not familiar with the Russian ingenuity.Red mercury was said to have had a fantastic properties - from superdensity (over 20 g / cm3) and superradioaktivnosti to cosmic origin or opportunity to cure any ailments.Purchaser under her views peddling anything - from mercury amalgam of mercury to normal, colored dyes or brick powder.
Many Soviet nuclear physicists have repeatedly denied the possibility of creating such a matter, explaining that this is not only contrary to the laws of nature, but it is impossible at the present technological level.Adding mercury compounds to the same applied in the nuclear reaction uranium or plutonium is only reduces their activity and functionality.
Not having a real basis, the rumors about the substance RM 20/20 after a few years, almost subsided themselves.Current observers believe the hype, which then caused the red mercury was created artificially.The source of the active promotion of rumors in the media have become the monetary interests of the many senior people.And the desire of the West to discredit the former Soviet Union nuclear energy, halfway to the international community the idea of the nuclear terrorist threat from Russia.
And now again in the media you can find articles about the reality of scientific research on the creation of red mercury as a basic material for the development of nanotechnology, or "living machines".On behalf of the professors and academics painted the unique opportunities offered to humanity according to technological breakthroughs.Red mercury is called universal catalyst and an inhibitor of chemical reactions, and referred fabulous prices for the "philosopher's stone of the XXI century."This proves that people have not disappeared, ready to cash in on someone else's faith in miracles.
