Metals Floating on Mercury

Theory

Mercury is a liquid with density $13534kg/{\mathrm{m}}^3$. Iron (7870) floats with $7870/13534\approx 58\%$ submerged; lead (11 340) floats with ~84% under the surface; only denser metals such as gold (19 300) would sink.

What to observe

• Aluminium floats high, iron about halfway, lead almost entirely submerged.

Try this

• Change the liquid back to water: all metals sink.
• Add a glass block (2500 kg/m³).

Also available in: Metais flutuando no mercúrio (Português) · Metales flotando en mercurio (Español)