• Question: what happens if we eat francium?

    Asked by bjw1472 to Amy, Karen, Sarah, Vijay, Will on 14 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Will Reynolds

      Will Reynolds answered on 14 Jun 2012:

      Hi bjw1472. Well first you would have to get some (which is illegal in most places), then you would have to put it in your mouth without it catching fire (which would be difficult because it spontaneously catches fire in air) but if you can manage all that then it would explode when it touches the water in your mouth before you had a chance to swallow it, and probably blow you into tiny pieces. If you manage it let me know how it goes!

    • Photo: Sarah Martin

      Sarah Martin answered on 14 Jun 2012:

      Hi bjw1472!

      Did you see the Brainiac video will posted to the metals question, and what happened to the bathtub with a bit of Rubidium? Well, the answer is it would take your head off, and probably quite a few other things in a 10 metre radius… Let us know how it goes and be sure to take notes!!!

    • Photo: Karen Reed

      Karen Reed answered on 15 Jun 2012:

      Not one to try then!!

      (I was going to ask what’s francium – but its one of those alkali metal things i see – I did watch the video – short term memory problem I think)

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