• bleistift2English
    41·
    1 day ago

    Why is it safer to lick Lithium than Caesium?

    Radon is a gas. I’d like to see you lick that. Same for the halogens, the noble gases, nitrogen, oxygen hydrogen and probably some I forgot.

    • PeriodicallyPedantic@lemmy.ca
      2·
      22 hours ago

      The alkali metals get more strongly reactive the higher their atomic number.

      Lithium will react pretty violently with the water in your saliva, but cesium will blow up your head. If you get enough of it wet to cover your tongue

      • bleistift2English
        1·
        3 hours ago

        The alkali metals get more strongly reactive the higher their atomic number.

        I thought it was the other way around. Thanks for correcting me.

    • trxxruraxvr@lemmy.world
      4·
      1 day ago

      According to wikipedia

      Because biochemical processes can confuse and substitute caesium with potassium, excess caesium can lead to hypokalemia, arrhythmia, and acute cardiac arrest, but such amounts would not ordinarily be encountered in natural sources.

      • mmddmm@lemm.ee
        7·
        1 day ago

        Both still react explosively with your tongue, leaving highly toxic remains.

        I’m agreeing with the GP here, why is Lithium yellow?