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Things You'll Need
Instructions
Calomel Solution
Pour all of the mercury (I) chloride into the Petri dish. Use the stirring rod to create a bowl-like recess in the powder.
Pour 2 to 3 milliliters of mercury liquid into the recess.
Stir the mercury and mercury (I) chloride slowly with the stirring rod until the mixture begins to form a thick paste.
Add approximately 5 milliliters of potassium chloride powder to the paste and blend thoroughly with the glass stirring rod.
Add the remainder of the liquid mercury to the paste, approximately 1 milliliter at a time, stirring until the mixture becomes a thick slurry-like paste.
Preparing the Inner Glass
Wrap the cloth washcloth around the upper half of the 5 mm-wide test tube to provide a solid, safe grip.
Score the bottom of the 5 mm-wide test tube with the metal file in a circle approximately four centimeters from the bottom edge. Use firm and steady pressure, working the glass carefully and slowly and twisting it in a full circle as you do.
Wrap the test tube several times with the washcloth and wrap your fingers around both sides of the area your scored with the file with thumbs facing you and meeting along the scored line.
Snap the glass along the line with a sudden push with both thumbs and pulling the pieces apart. Open the cloth and dispose of the small end you broke off.
Glue a small section of the glass wool to the bottom of the opening.
Preparing the Outer Glass
Wrap the washcloth around the upper half of the 20 mm-wide test tube to provide a solid, safe grip.
Score the bottom of the 20 mm-wide test tube with the metal file approximately four centimeters from the bottom edge.
Wrap the test tube several times with the washcloth and wrap your fingers around both sides of the scored region and place your thumbs meeting along the scored line.
Snap the glass and dispose of the short end piece.
Glue densely-packed glass frit to a small section of glass wool. Place this inside the test tube and glue it into place. Repeat as needed until the test tube will hold water without dripping.
Assembly
Fill the smaller test tube with the calomel paste, taking care to avoid contact with the mercury-laden compound.
Insert the copper wire into the paste. Pack the top the the test tube with glass wool and glue it into place. You may need to repeat this step several times as needed to immobilize the wire.
Place the remaining 5 grams of potassium chloride powder into the larger test tube and then slowly add distilled water until the test tube is just over half full, making sure to mix it into solution.
Place the smaller test tube inside the larger one, taking care not to cause the fluid level in the larger tube to overflow, but deep enough that an air gap of a few centimeters remains at the top.
Glue glass wool in the gap at the top of the larger test tube as close as possible to the potassium chloride solution level without touching it. Repeat the process until the smaller test tube is held firmly in place and the larger tube has no gap at the top.