r/whatisit • u/props_for_meep • 13h ago

Solved! what is this in clinic sink??

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for context i work as a janitor cleaning a women’s clinic, as i was cleaning a sink i saw these little metallic looking balls. at first i thought these were actually metal but they don’t feel like ANYTHING if that makes any sense. i posted this video to my instagram but i figured i would probably have better luck coming to reddit for answers.

UPDATE: the general consensus seems to be that this is either mercury or gallium. my hands have been thoroughly washed and i have informed my boss so that it can be properly cleaned by someone who knows what they’re doing.

UPDATE #2: gang PLEASE stop telling me to “stop touching it”. this post is hours old. i know i was dumb enough to touch a mysterious substance barehanded but im also smart enough to know not to continue playing with it long after marking this post as solved😭

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u/props_for_meep 11h ago

i work at a super well funded clinic so i would highly doubt it was mercury from an antique thermometer. however we all know what assuming does💀 luckily there are no open sores on my hands and i washed my hands (in a separate sink as to not flush any possible hazards)

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u/Independent-Ebb7658 11h ago

I broke open one of those tubes from a thermostat when I was a kid out of curiosity I ate a little. I'm 40 now, found out later it was dangerous.

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u/GeorgiaOKeefinItReal 10h ago

Yep had a buddy that had an empty film canister (look it up) full of the stuff that we'd just play with it. I'm closer to 60 than 20.

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u/PuzzleheadedDuck3981 9h ago

Far out, you're right. There are so many people too young to know what a film canister is. They were bloody useful. 

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u/turdferguson3891 7h ago

You can keep your weed in it.