Mercury is a familiar substance to everyone since childhood in a thermometer. Terribly poisonous and life-threatening metal silver-white metal, liquid at room temperature. Even the alchemists of the Middle Ages tried to turn this unusual substance into gold.
At school, from lessons in chemistry, we learn about the periodic system of Mendeleev, where Hg is an element with atomic number 80. Now this flowing metal, known since ancient times, is well studied. Whatever property of mercury interests the average person, it will not be difficult to learn more about it. For example, its colorlessness in vapor, boiling point, compressibility, etc.
Already in the early 90s of the XX century, rumors spread about the creation of a completely new variety of this metal. The subject of gossip was red mercury, more precisely, the substance RM 20/20, allegedly produced in secret scientific laboratories of the USSR. People’s belief in the reality of this substance was supported by new stories and scandals associated with its sales. Mythical red mercury was worth fabulous money. Sellers requested for 1 kg from 300 to 400 thousand dollars.
And those who wanted to pay such sums were, especially in the West, which at that time was still little acquainted with Russian ingenuity. Red mercury, as they said, had simply fantastic properties - from super-density (over 20 g / cm 3 ) and super-radioactivity to cosmic origin or the ability to cure any ailments. From the look of a mercury amalgam to ordinary mercury stained with dyes or brick powder, they slipped everything under her guise.
Many Soviet nuclear physicists have repeatedly denied the possibility of creating such a substance, explaining that this is not only contrary to the laws of nature, but also impossible at the modern technological level. The addition of mercury compounds to the uranium or plutonium used in the nuclear reaction only reduces their radioactivity and functionality.
With no real basis, the rumors about the RM 20/20 substance almost completely died down after a few years. Current observers believe that the hype that red mercury caused then was created artificially. The source of active promotion of rumors in the media was the monetary interests of many high-ranking people. As well as the desire of the West to discredit the nuclear energy of the former Union, bringing to the world community the idea of an atomic terrorist threat from Russia.
And now again in the media you can find articles on the reality of scientific developments on the creation of red mercury, as a fundamental substance for the development of nanotechnology or “living machines”. On behalf of professors and academics, the unique opportunities that humanity is given with this technological discovery are being painted. Red mercury is called a universal catalyst and an inhibitor of chemical reactions, and fabulous prices for the “philosopher's stone of the 21st century” are also mentioned. This proves that people who are ready to cash in on someone's faith in miracles have not disappeared.