The Gallium Man - Periodic Table of Videos

We melt a man made of Gallium - and then torch a Lego Professor!
More links and info in full description ↓↓↓

This episode was also generously supported by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation

Music by Alan Stewart

[scotts]

So nice of Neil to pretend as though his strength has limits, so-as not to intimidate the rest of us.

[Amateur.Chemistry]

Gallium is the tutorial version of mercury

[Yezpahr]

Neil's jealousy of not having a lego lookalike of his own has culminated into a total destruction.

[Luca_Raven]

Awww you should get a mould and make a new professor with the Gallium

[beanofknowledge]

What did the Lego Professor do to deserve this?

[RFC-]

The T-0.001 _didn't_ melt from the bottom first, though. You can see the head melting (and the metal pooling at the bottom) while the feet are still intact inside that pool (once the feet start to melt, it can't stand up).

[octavianova]

If you look closely, especially if you've handled gallium before, you can actually spot that the gallium that pools at the bottom actually does originate from the top. The only reason it isn't immediately obvious is because tends to form a kind of skin (I believe an outer oxide layer) and when it first starts melting, the melt tends to occur underneath that skin while the skin itself can remain intact for a minute. So if you look closely, you can see an initial thinning of the material on the head, and the movement of material down to base, where it then breaches the oxide layer, creating the appearance that it's melting from the bottom

[sthomas]

I don't think I would have burnt up the Lego Professor! What a shame!

[Silentspeaker]

Gallium behaves similarly to aluminum. There is a passivating oxide layer that prevents the molten metal from flowing out. You can think of it like a chocolate bar in a wrapper. The chocolate may be melted, but the wrapper (oxide layer) prevents the chocolate from going everywhere because it has a higher melting point than the chocolate/gallium. However, as a break in the oxide layer occurs, the molten gallium begins to pool, because the oxide layer is not necessarily very strong. If you demonstrate the melting of an ingot of aluminum, you'll see the same behavior.

[williamreffett]

You gotta love heat transfer. Reason why it started to melt from the bottom versus the top is because it was sitting on top of a glass petri dish.

[zachwistuk]

Viewer from the beginning here, Neil was always my favorite. The lanyard just confirms that even more. Neil is the hidden star of this channel. Glory to Neil!!!

[chillsahoy]

I like how the list showing the melting points of low-melting metals has gallium, and then a series of metals you PROBABLY don't want to touch. Rubidium: you might be able to melt it in your hand if you have a bad fever, but it'll be the last thing you do. Cesium: you'll easily melt it in your hand, and then the moisture from your skin will be enough for an explosion. Mercury: it's already liquid, but also please don't touch it with your bare hands!

[austin]

I first saw this channel before I was even 10 years old, and now i’m enrolled in university biochemistry.

[icab]

Your videos have been a contant source of joy professor

[theGreaterAwareness]

You could have a T-800 model made of aluminum and let them shake hands.

[peterromero]

Neil just being completely unable to contain his chadliness

[Angie-Way]

not really related to the science but Neil's outfit in this video is on point

[CC-bphn]

After following Dr. Brady Haran for years, I'm happy to say the content is still cutting edge and phenomenal. Good to see you and the professor in good health.

I'm also certain that this was just a good excuse to hang out with good friends, sneak in a cheeky star wars bit, and enjoy some time back at Nottingham.

I sit here in the sofa shop wearing white gloves and bearing my Tim name tag, watching my official tommyball broadcast.

Love the work you do man, and I hope your family is well.

[iTeerRex]

Prof. you should get a two part cast for the Gallium, so after each demo, you just pour it into cast. And just like the one in the movie it’s hard to kill lol

[ED-yyte]

You’re supposed to shatter it by saying “hasta la vista, baby” then shoot it.