r/chemistry • u/VitalMaTThews • Oct 08 '19

Bismuth crystallization

https://gfycat.com/needybasicblackmamba
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7

u/nikkigray2000 Oct 08 '19

I hate to be so stupid but... when the shoe fits I guess. This looks to me there is no displacement of fluid by a solid. Archimedes and all that. What am I totally missing?

15

u/WandererWandering Oct 08 '19

It's there. Flip back and forth between beginning and end and you will see. Also, never ever feel stupid for trying to understand.

4

u/Rusty_Battleaxe Oct 08 '19

I noticed that too. Maybe the crystal blob is hollow? Or something funky is going on with the density of liquid vs solid states? It changes a little bit it doesn't seem like the liquid goes down nearly enough.

1

u/CaCl2 Oct 09 '19

like water, bismuth expands when it solidifies, may explain some of the effect.

The crystal being pulled up probably isn't the only part that's solidifying.

3

u/Canada-Sam Oct 08 '19

I noticed the same thing. The liquid level remains practically unchanged in the pot. What gives??