6 amazing substances (7 photos)

We can laugh at our ancestors who thought the magic powder and do not understand what a magnet, but even in our enlightened age there are materials created by science, but similar to the result of the witchcraft. Often these materials are difficult to obtain, but it is worth it.



1. The metal that melts in your hands


The existence of a liquid metal such as mercury, metals and the ability to take a liquid state at a certain temperature known. But solid metal, melting like ice cream in the hands - this is an unusual phenomenon. This metal called gallium. It melts at room temperature, and unsuitable for practical use. If you put the subject of gallium in a glass of hot liquid, it will dissolve right before your eyes. In addition, gallium aluminum is able to do very fragile - simply place a drop of gallium aluminum surface.





2. Gas, capable of retaining solid objects


This gas is heavier than air, and if they fill the closed container, it will settle to the bottom. Just like water, sulfur hexafluoride, is able to withstand less dense objects, such as foil boat. Colorless gas will keep the subject on its surface, and the impression that the boat floats. Sulphur hexafluoride can scoop from the container conventional glass - while the boat slowly sink to the bottom.



In addition, due to its gravity gas reduces the incidence of any sound passing through it, and if you breathe a little sulfur hexafluoride, your voice will sound like an ominous baritone Dr. Evil.





3. Hydrophobic coating


The green tile on the picture - not the jelly, and colored water. It lies on a flat plate, the edges of the treated hydrophobic coating. The coating repels water droplets and take a convex shape. In the middle of a white surface has the perfect raw square, and water accumulates there. A drop placed on the treated area immediately flow to the raw parts and merge with the rest of the water. If you are treated with a hydrophobic coating maknёte finger in a glass of water, it will remain completely dry, and around it formed a "bubble" - the water is desperately trying to get away from you. On the basis of these substances it is planned to create a water-repellent clothing and glass for cars.



4. spontaneously exploding powder


Nitrogen triiodide looks like a lump of mud, but appearances are deceptive: the material is so unstable that the feather light touch is enough to explosion. Used material solely for experimentation - it is dangerous even to move from place to place. When the material explodes, appears beautiful purple smoke. Similarly, the substance is silver fulminate - it also does not apply anywhere and is good only for making bombochek.



5. Hot Ice


Hot ice, also known as sodium acetate, is a liquid, solidifying at the slightest impact. From simple touch it from a liquid to instantly transformed into a solid like ice crystal. On the entire surface of the formed patterns like the windows in the cold, the process takes a few seconds - until all the material is not "freeze." When you form the center of crystallization, which is transmitted through the chain molecules of information about the new state. Of course, in the end produced the ice was not - as the name suggests, the material feels quite warm, cooled very slowly and is used for the manufacture of chemical warmers.



6. The metal has a memory


Nitinol, an alloy of nickel and titanium, has an impressive ability to "remember" their original shape and return to it after deformation. All that is needed - a little heat. For example, you can drop in the alloy with warm water, and it will take its original shape no matter how much has been previously distorted. Currently, developed methods for its practical application. For example, it would be wise to make of such material points - if they are accidentally bent, you just need to substitute them under a stream of warm water. Of course, you do not know will ever do nitinol cars or something else serious, but the properties of the alloy are impressive.



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