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I am looking for any liquid that does not dissolve in water with higher density and does not react with water, one that is readily available.

jonsca
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user7063
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1 Answers1

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Trichloroethylene is a common chemical solvent that has reasonably low toxicity, it has density ~1.5 g/ml. However, it slowly becomes restricted. Tetrachloroethylene also may be considered. Dichlormethan has reasonably low toxicity, but its BP is too low. I would not use the liquids mentioned without fume hood on regular basis. One-time exposure is probably OK, but repeating exposure may lead to cancer. Chloroform may be considered, but I recommend to avoid it, it has accumulating liver toxicity. Tetrachloromethane should be avoided, it also has undesired toxicity.

Mercury MAY be considered, it is toxic if one is repeatedly exposed to vapours, but has very low vapour pressure and is reasonably cheap. But it has annoying tendency to produce small drops that are very hard to collect and move into smallest holes and accumulates in the system, so it clearly requires dedicated workplace.

Liquids mentioned above are reasonably cheap, so if they are not restricted in your home country, you should be able to allow yourself one. Unfortunately, that's all ideas I got. Well, there are some more, but they either has unreasonable cost, or are too toxic. Bromine, for example, is toxic and, though not mixing with water, partially dissolves in it.

permeakra
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    Wikipedia has a list at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_liquid including some comments on toxicity. Not worth an answer since it was a simple search. – Jon Custer Jul 08 '14 at 18:37
  • Thanks for the response. The easiest way i observe is to use salt water and fresh water ,i would like to confirm if they are shake proof.Even if i shake the bottle the two liquids would not mix.

    The list has some liquids which interest me. I would like to know if they would not mix or react with water and if they are easily available for me to use. For eg Clerici solution.

    Thanks

     – user7063 Jul 08 '14 at 18:50
  • Salt water and fresh water obviously mixes well. No offence, but if you plan to play with toxic chemical you need at least some basic chemical knowledge. – Greg Jul 08 '14 at 19:24
  • @user7063 I strongly encourage to drop the list from Wiki. It includes mostly rare and toxic chemicals and solutions of rare and toxic salts in water. The chemicals I listed are cheap and relatively safe, I worked with them and still alive and healthy. – permeakra Jul 08 '14 at 20:08
  • @user7063 Actually, if you need a liquid that does not mix with water, it is much easier to use one that has lower density than water. Toluene, gasoline, oil, hexane are well known examples that are relatively safe. – permeakra Jul 08 '14 at 20:11
  • @Greg thanks for your reply. I am not a chemical expert neither a noob. I have seen that sea water and fresh water do not easily mix in the sea. Thus i wanted to confirm its shakeproof. – user7063 Jul 09 '14 at 06:49
  • @permeakra Thanks for the warning. I have not handled any toxic chemcicals. OF the list you mentioned could you temme which one is more appropriate the density values are not far away. So i get the doubt they are not shakeproof .

    Thanks

     – user7063 Jul 09 '14 at 06:50
  • @user7063 From my list I recommend tri- or tetra-chloroethylene (NOT -ethane). The compounds do not mix with water but in presence of surfactants may produce emulsions with water. Well, don't mix them with surfactants. Check for solubility data when considering amount of liquid. – permeakra Jul 09 '14 at 07:19