When people say that the truth is stranger than fiction, I think that also applies to science.
Even though science is a very objective thing, it can still occasionally create something that looks like it came straight out of a horror movie. Take for example an old trick known as the Pharaoh’s Serpent.
Pharaoh’s Serpent is a type of firework made from mercury(II) thiocyanate (Hg(SCN)2), that when ignited makes a winding snake-like creation. While it’s not as scary as something like Frankenstein’s monster, it’s still pretty unsettling to see the chemical reaction take place.
Pure nope. Catch the video of the full chemical reaction below.
I bet there are some pretty dangerous fumes being produced here.
That is cool…and just a little freaky — especially with the music.
If you want to try out a Pharao’s Serpent on your own, this same YouTuber posted an in-depth tutorial, which you can check out here. Still, I wouldn’t want to try this at home without special training…
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