Assassin's bullet with mercury












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This is something I have been wondering: if an assassin wanted to kill their target with a bullet from a sniper rifle, can they dip it in liquid mercury so even if the bullet itself doesn't kill them, the mercury poisoning will? I am looking for scientific basis on how it could be feasible, if it is at all.



And in case you're wondering: No, I'm not planning to assassinate somebody.










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    Yay, we just got moved up the FBI, CIA, etc. watchlists again.
    $endgroup$
    – Gryphon
    Apr 3 at 17:34






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    quora.com/Will-adding-mercury-to-bullets-increase-the-fatality
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    – nzaman
    Apr 3 at 17:35






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    Mercury bullets are stupid. Turns out though, that sodium and potassium bullets are awesome: youtube.com/watch?v=T85d7ST2yxU
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    – Starfish Prime
    Apr 3 at 18:49






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    As many have indicated, no. Mercury is actually a slow killer. Have you ever heard the phrase, "mad as a hatter?" It came from the 1700s when hat makers in Europe used mercury during the hat making process and long-term exposure made people bonkers - and sometimes killed them. But it takes regular exposure for a long time to do that. Fish are harvested with mercury in them - alive, not dead. Mercury poisoning is a problem, but the environmental hype exceeds Mercury's abilities. Now, a hollow-tip like Zeiss suggests with a Curare core.... That would work.
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    – JBH
    Apr 3 at 20:17






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    @Sievert The lethality to whichever poor sod has to load the things, yes.
    $endgroup$
    – Cadence
    Apr 3 at 20:58
















21












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This is something I have been wondering: if an assassin wanted to kill their target with a bullet from a sniper rifle, can they dip it in liquid mercury so even if the bullet itself doesn't kill them, the mercury poisoning will? I am looking for scientific basis on how it could be feasible, if it is at all.



And in case you're wondering: No, I'm not planning to assassinate somebody.










share|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 64




    $begingroup$
    Yay, we just got moved up the FBI, CIA, etc. watchlists again.
    $endgroup$
    – Gryphon
    Apr 3 at 17:34






  • 7




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    quora.com/Will-adding-mercury-to-bullets-increase-the-fatality
    $endgroup$
    – nzaman
    Apr 3 at 17:35






  • 7




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    Mercury bullets are stupid. Turns out though, that sodium and potassium bullets are awesome: youtube.com/watch?v=T85d7ST2yxU
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    Apr 3 at 18:49






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    As many have indicated, no. Mercury is actually a slow killer. Have you ever heard the phrase, "mad as a hatter?" It came from the 1700s when hat makers in Europe used mercury during the hat making process and long-term exposure made people bonkers - and sometimes killed them. But it takes regular exposure for a long time to do that. Fish are harvested with mercury in them - alive, not dead. Mercury poisoning is a problem, but the environmental hype exceeds Mercury's abilities. Now, a hollow-tip like Zeiss suggests with a Curare core.... That would work.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    Apr 3 at 20:17






  • 8




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    @Sievert The lethality to whichever poor sod has to load the things, yes.
    $endgroup$
    – Cadence
    Apr 3 at 20:58














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This is something I have been wondering: if an assassin wanted to kill their target with a bullet from a sniper rifle, can they dip it in liquid mercury so even if the bullet itself doesn't kill them, the mercury poisoning will? I am looking for scientific basis on how it could be feasible, if it is at all.



And in case you're wondering: No, I'm not planning to assassinate somebody.










share|improve this question









$endgroup$




This is something I have been wondering: if an assassin wanted to kill their target with a bullet from a sniper rifle, can they dip it in liquid mercury so even if the bullet itself doesn't kill them, the mercury poisoning will? I am looking for scientific basis on how it could be feasible, if it is at all.



And in case you're wondering: No, I'm not planning to assassinate somebody.







science-based chemistry assassination






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asked Apr 3 at 17:31









Nathan HoppNathan Hopp

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  • 64




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    Yay, we just got moved up the FBI, CIA, etc. watchlists again.
    $endgroup$
    – Gryphon
    Apr 3 at 17:34






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    quora.com/Will-adding-mercury-to-bullets-increase-the-fatality
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    – nzaman
    Apr 3 at 17:35






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    Mercury bullets are stupid. Turns out though, that sodium and potassium bullets are awesome: youtube.com/watch?v=T85d7ST2yxU
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    Apr 3 at 18:49






  • 6




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    As many have indicated, no. Mercury is actually a slow killer. Have you ever heard the phrase, "mad as a hatter?" It came from the 1700s when hat makers in Europe used mercury during the hat making process and long-term exposure made people bonkers - and sometimes killed them. But it takes regular exposure for a long time to do that. Fish are harvested with mercury in them - alive, not dead. Mercury poisoning is a problem, but the environmental hype exceeds Mercury's abilities. Now, a hollow-tip like Zeiss suggests with a Curare core.... That would work.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    Apr 3 at 20:17






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    @Sievert The lethality to whichever poor sod has to load the things, yes.
    $endgroup$
    – Cadence
    Apr 3 at 20:58














  • 64




    $begingroup$
    Yay, we just got moved up the FBI, CIA, etc. watchlists again.
    $endgroup$
    – Gryphon
    Apr 3 at 17:34






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    quora.com/Will-adding-mercury-to-bullets-increase-the-fatality
    $endgroup$
    – nzaman
    Apr 3 at 17:35






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    Mercury bullets are stupid. Turns out though, that sodium and potassium bullets are awesome: youtube.com/watch?v=T85d7ST2yxU
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    Apr 3 at 18:49






  • 6




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    As many have indicated, no. Mercury is actually a slow killer. Have you ever heard the phrase, "mad as a hatter?" It came from the 1700s when hat makers in Europe used mercury during the hat making process and long-term exposure made people bonkers - and sometimes killed them. But it takes regular exposure for a long time to do that. Fish are harvested with mercury in them - alive, not dead. Mercury poisoning is a problem, but the environmental hype exceeds Mercury's abilities. Now, a hollow-tip like Zeiss suggests with a Curare core.... That would work.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    Apr 3 at 20:17






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    @Sievert The lethality to whichever poor sod has to load the things, yes.
    $endgroup$
    – Cadence
    Apr 3 at 20:58








64




64




$begingroup$
Yay, we just got moved up the FBI, CIA, etc. watchlists again.
$endgroup$
– Gryphon
Apr 3 at 17:34




$begingroup$
Yay, we just got moved up the FBI, CIA, etc. watchlists again.
$endgroup$
– Gryphon
Apr 3 at 17:34




7




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quora.com/Will-adding-mercury-to-bullets-increase-the-fatality
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– nzaman
Apr 3 at 17:35




$begingroup$
quora.com/Will-adding-mercury-to-bullets-increase-the-fatality
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– nzaman
Apr 3 at 17:35




7




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Mercury bullets are stupid. Turns out though, that sodium and potassium bullets are awesome: youtube.com/watch?v=T85d7ST2yxU
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Apr 3 at 18:49




$begingroup$
Mercury bullets are stupid. Turns out though, that sodium and potassium bullets are awesome: youtube.com/watch?v=T85d7ST2yxU
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Apr 3 at 18:49




6




6




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As many have indicated, no. Mercury is actually a slow killer. Have you ever heard the phrase, "mad as a hatter?" It came from the 1700s when hat makers in Europe used mercury during the hat making process and long-term exposure made people bonkers - and sometimes killed them. But it takes regular exposure for a long time to do that. Fish are harvested with mercury in them - alive, not dead. Mercury poisoning is a problem, but the environmental hype exceeds Mercury's abilities. Now, a hollow-tip like Zeiss suggests with a Curare core.... That would work.
$endgroup$
– JBH
Apr 3 at 20:17




$begingroup$
As many have indicated, no. Mercury is actually a slow killer. Have you ever heard the phrase, "mad as a hatter?" It came from the 1700s when hat makers in Europe used mercury during the hat making process and long-term exposure made people bonkers - and sometimes killed them. But it takes regular exposure for a long time to do that. Fish are harvested with mercury in them - alive, not dead. Mercury poisoning is a problem, but the environmental hype exceeds Mercury's abilities. Now, a hollow-tip like Zeiss suggests with a Curare core.... That would work.
$endgroup$
– JBH
Apr 3 at 20:17




8




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@Sievert The lethality to whichever poor sod has to load the things, yes.
$endgroup$
– Cadence
Apr 3 at 20:58




$begingroup$
@Sievert The lethality to whichever poor sod has to load the things, yes.
$endgroup$
– Cadence
Apr 3 at 20:58










9 Answers
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No.



If we just dip the bullet in mercury, only trace amounts of mercury will remain. That definitely won't be enough mercury for our purposes.



If we treat a lead (but not iron/steel) bullet for a long time in mercury it will form an amalgam alloy. This can give us sufficient amount of mercury, but adversely affect bullet ballistics. Additionally, an amalgam alloy bullet will likely be removed by subsequent surgery, again, negating our efforts.



If we instead enclose mercury in a hollow bullet, that might work - but it would still be messy and much less effective than cyanide, for example.






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    I've had amalgam tooth fillings. I'm still alive.
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    – Mazura
    2 days ago






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    Still alive now, but if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health...
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    – Penguino
    2 days ago






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    Ah, so Cyanide Gushers™ Bullets are the answer. Got it.
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    – Broots Waymb
    2 days ago








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    @Penguino if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health Probalby not. The ballistic trajectory and MoA (Minute of Angle) of an amalgam filling makes it pretty unlikely the shooter would actually be able to hit you with it, unless fired at point blank range.... which would raise questions of who would use a sniper rifle to take a point-blank shot.
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    – HopelessN00b
    yesterday








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    @HopelessN00b Someone who suddenly realised their target is a lot closer than anticipated, perhaps?
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    – Clonkex
    yesterday



















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Mercury has, in the real world, been used to increase the terminal effect of hollow point bullets (especially a the relatively low velocity of pistol bullets). In essence, a short time before firing (so as not to have all the mercury amalgamated with the lead, but some liquid still left at firing) a conventional hollow point is filled with mercury. It was common to press a small caliber gas check (a soft metal disk of precise diameter, with a raised edge) into the hollow point to keep the mercury in place.



On impact, the liquid in the hollow point magnified the hydraulic effect, leading to much stronger and faster expansion of the bullet. The mercury itself was chemically insignificant; it was the expansion effect that was sought. Worth noting here that my source (an article in a gun/reloading publication, but I don't recall which, much less what 1970s vintage issue) also found that the effect was essentially the same using water or oil; any difference between mercury and water being attributable to the greater increase in bullet weight.



Most who use guns for defense now consider penetration more important than expansion, so mercury tip bullets (which have long been legally prohibited as "toxic", however erroneously) are no longer widely considered an effective modification.






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    Citation needed. I'm pretty certain it has always been a fictional device, with no practical real world implementation. Mercury tipped bullets will, at best, be no better than the normal kind.
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    – Starfish Prime
    Apr 3 at 18:31






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    Can't give a citation. I read about this in a gun/reloading source, an article with a "mythbusting" attitude, which showed that yes, there was a definite effect of increasing expansion -- but it was in the 1970s, when hollow points were the rage and those who advocated penetration were largely ignored, at least in the press, and after forty-some years, I don't recall the source. The same article, as I recall, showed that the same effect was obtainable without legal issues using vegetable oil or plain water.
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    – Zeiss Ikon
    Apr 3 at 18:37






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    I did find a video of an NaK-filled bullet being used. The alloy is liquid at room temperature. It was shot at very close range (probably a necessity to ensure it actually reached the target) and doesn't appear to be noticably better at expansion than potassium which is merely very soft. Note that in all the cases, the bullet isn't "tipped" so much as the jacket being completely emptied of lead and refilled.
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    – Starfish Prime
    Apr 3 at 18:58






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    NaK is so light this isn't a good comparison. Lead is many times denser,and mercury a bit denser than that.
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    – Zeiss Ikon
    Apr 3 at 19:07






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    I suspect the "toxic" designation for the bullet is not so much referring to the effect of the mercury on the target (who generally has more important bullet wound trauma to deal with), but to the effect on the environment around them when the bullet exits their body (or when a bullet hits something else, in the case of a missed shot). It would be a pain to clean up bits of mercury scattered all over the area, and dangerous to the cleaning personnel.
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    – Blckknght
    Apr 3 at 21:14



















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While the answer to the question is not a hard no, there are way better options for the same effect.



If your goal is death by "heavy metal poisoning", then I'd suggest depleted uranium rounds instead. Uranium is far more toxic than mercury, plus comes with some impressive armor penetrating properties as an added bonus. DU rounds also have a tendency to liquify/vaporize on impact so even though it's solid at rest, it can still splatter on impact fatally infecting the wounded person's bloodstream, but as David pointed out, getting them to splatter against soft tissue is unlikely.



Either way, heavy metal poisoning is a slow death which is probably not what an assassin wants on a near miss. A better approach would probably be a low-caliber explosive round. While they violate all sorts of international laws and treaties, an explosive rifle round to the arm, leg, or gut would still cause enough mutilation that your target is likely to quickly bleed out and die.



If you really want to be inhuman, combine the ideas by making a sodium/potassium round with a DU jacket. If the blast does not kill you, the DU shrapnel will, and if that fails, the blast will still vaporize a lethal dose of uranium into your bloodstream.






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    DU rounds from A10's were used for anti personnel operations during Iraq 1/Desert Storm. Rumor says that the effect was roughly the same as a giant sausage grinder going through the camps. You might call that heavy metal poisoning, but not in the strictly chemical sense of the word.
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    – pojo-guy
    yesterday






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    Actually, DU is not useful for this. There are veterans with DU shrapnel still walking around years afterwards (ditton with lead bullets - toxic, not absorbed via that route) . DU dust or vapour is much, much more toxic.
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    – David Hambling
    yesterday






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    DU has a tendency to vaporize when hitting armor. Not when hitting a person.
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    – Loren Pechtel
    21 hours ago



















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No.



Not even in the form of dimethylmercury.



This extremely nasty organic compound was being carefully used by professional toxic metal researcher Karen Wetterhahn when a few small drops of it touched the outside of her latex gloves. At the time it was not known that this noxious substance could travel through latex. Nothing could be done, she died less than a year later.



To make enough stick to a (hot - >100 celsius) bullet in flight, because it would otherwise evaporate before reaching your target, dipping the bullet would not work, you'd need some water soluble delivery system which releases after impact which would not satisfy the requirements of the question - but careful how your protagonist uses it, lest they succumb the same way.



Edited due to being wrong all over.






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    How hot do bullets get when fired?. TL;DR: at least 100 degrees Celsius, above the boiling point of dimethylmercury.
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    – Brythan
    Apr 3 at 19:17






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    I guess you could drill a hole in the end of the bullet, fill it with the noxious substance and then plug it with something like epoxy. A few tests with dye and ballistic gel would confirm whether it's effective or not.
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    – Spehro Pefhany
    Apr 3 at 20:13





















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Mercury as a LD50 of between 1mg/kg to 100 mg/kg. depending on the chemical properties of the mercury you choose to use you may need up to 10g to make if potentially lethal. Assuming you use the most soluble form of mercury, you would still want to up the dose significantly to overcome elements such as splatter, bullet passing through entirely or just not absorbed by the body. This would add significantly to the weight of the bullet and may mess with its ballistics.



If you choose another element, such as polonium or plutonium, you may have better success. Both are highly toxic due to chemical toxicity and radiological toxicity. I'm not entirely sure of the chemical properties of polonium, but plutonium is a dense metal, similar to uranium. It can easily be made into a bullet that shoots properly, similar to depleted uranium. You would only need 5mg to be chemically toxic. If you have a 7.5g mixed metal plutonium round, it would ensure poisoning of the target. However, that death by heavy metal poisoning would take a long while to occur, depending on the amount of metal the body absorbed prior to the bullets removal.






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    I'm pretty sure the atomic regulatory agency in whatever jurisdiction our assassin lives would get very interested if they set out to acquire any amount of plutonium, even milligrams.
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    – Blckknght
    2 days ago










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    Great thing about plutonium is it tends to be a waste product in LEU reactors, (Pu-238 and 240 are readily produced and is effectively useless for further fissions.) Now if you find a location that has lax controls on their spent fuel waste, then it would be fairly easy to acquire.
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    – Sonvar
    2 days ago



















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Mercury



No, because you need more Mercury than the fatal dose that can be delivered in a bullet. Adding the Mercury sure will make your victim uncomfortable until the body sheds the excess amount down to acceptable levels.



Mercury when ingested targets blood, kidneys, central nervous system, liver and the brain. Large doses of Mercury will lead to easily identifiable health symptoms Administration of a chelating agent can help reduce the effects on the body.



Acute Mercury poisoning will lead to death, but generally that death will be due to an already existing kidney or liver damage. There is always the possibility that exposure will cause a failure of the central nervous system, which could lead to death.



In essence, that big new hole in the body from he gunshot wound will be far more fatal either from tissue damage or a secondary infection.




  • https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/96252.htm






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    Metallic mercury doesn't form soluble compounds easily. if the mercury isn't already in an organic compound form, it's not noticeably worse than lead -- and contrary to popular fiction, bullets are usually left in the body, because removing them will do more harm than leaving them will.
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    – Zeiss Ikon
    Apr 3 at 18:24










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    @ZeissIkon Surely that seems counter-productive though? Would someone not get lead-poisioning by leaving that bullet inside their body for years? I know that sharp objects that enter the body are usually left in before being removed by medical professionals to prevent further bleeding. I’ve seen vets remove shotgun pellets from a dog before so i am unsure if a doctor would leave a bullet in a human, or at least if that is standard practice.
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    – Liam Morris
    Apr 3 at 18:35






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    The body "encysts" foreign objects in scar tissue, which insulates the lead bullet from body fluids. The only time bullets are routinely removed if if they're in a location where friction from movement will break down the cyst, or if they're in a location where there's risk of the bullet moving in a harmful way (in the brain, immediately by the spinal cord or aorta, for instance).
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    – Zeiss Ikon
    Apr 3 at 18:42










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    @ZeissIkon Oh right, i did not know this. I thought that, just by being in the body, the lead would permeate through the skin and cause lead poisoning that way. I would also assume that, if it were possible to easily remove the bullet (such as if it was not burried too deep) a doctor would prefer to do that than leave it in.
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    – Liam Morris
    Apr 3 at 19:45



















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Lead is already poisonous, the addition of mercury might be unnecessary if looking to increase the poisoning potential of a bullet. Instead, I would consider using toxin from poison dart frogs in the bullets.



This toxin is highly lethal to most creatures, including humans, and was used by aboriginal tribes in the rain forest. They coated darts with this poison (likely where the frogs got their name from) and used a blowgun to inject a person with it.



You could employ a similar mechanism with your bullets, either coating them in poison or putting the poison into a specialised bullet meant for storing the liquid and releasing it upon impact. If you really wanted to use mercury though, you could fill the bullet with that instead.






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    Botulism toxin is a good poison to use
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    – Sonvar
    yesterday



















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As others have said mercury as a poison is just not practical. What might be possible is to use mercury embrittlement to damage vehicles.



video of embrittlement



Now I'm not sure how plausible it is to e.g. hit an aircraft with a mercury bullet, but if you can then mercury embrittlement process should allow the mercury to migrate through the aircraft aluminum structures and considerably weaken them. i.e. it might be able to make an otherwise nonlethal shot to an aircraft lethal






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    No.



    If you dip you bullet in mercury, it will run off. Even if some adheres (and it doesn-t - have you seen mercury?) it will be lost in the high-temperatures following firing.



    Even if some does miraculously make it into the victim's body, traces of metallic mercury are not going to cause a health issue.



    Suggest you pick something genuinely dangerous, eg saxatoxin or one of the others used by the CIA etc






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      9 Answers
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      9 Answers
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      No.



      If we just dip the bullet in mercury, only trace amounts of mercury will remain. That definitely won't be enough mercury for our purposes.



      If we treat a lead (but not iron/steel) bullet for a long time in mercury it will form an amalgam alloy. This can give us sufficient amount of mercury, but adversely affect bullet ballistics. Additionally, an amalgam alloy bullet will likely be removed by subsequent surgery, again, negating our efforts.



      If we instead enclose mercury in a hollow bullet, that might work - but it would still be messy and much less effective than cyanide, for example.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$









      • 16




        $begingroup$
        I've had amalgam tooth fillings. I'm still alive.
        $endgroup$
        – Mazura
        2 days ago






      • 25




        $begingroup$
        Still alive now, but if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health...
        $endgroup$
        – Penguino
        2 days ago






      • 7




        $begingroup$
        Ah, so Cyanide Gushers™ Bullets are the answer. Got it.
        $endgroup$
        – Broots Waymb
        2 days ago








      • 2




        $begingroup$
        @Penguino if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health Probalby not. The ballistic trajectory and MoA (Minute of Angle) of an amalgam filling makes it pretty unlikely the shooter would actually be able to hit you with it, unless fired at point blank range.... which would raise questions of who would use a sniper rifle to take a point-blank shot.
        $endgroup$
        – HopelessN00b
        yesterday








      • 5




        $begingroup$
        @HopelessN00b Someone who suddenly realised their target is a lot closer than anticipated, perhaps?
        $endgroup$
        – Clonkex
        yesterday
















      27












      $begingroup$

      No.



      If we just dip the bullet in mercury, only trace amounts of mercury will remain. That definitely won't be enough mercury for our purposes.



      If we treat a lead (but not iron/steel) bullet for a long time in mercury it will form an amalgam alloy. This can give us sufficient amount of mercury, but adversely affect bullet ballistics. Additionally, an amalgam alloy bullet will likely be removed by subsequent surgery, again, negating our efforts.



      If we instead enclose mercury in a hollow bullet, that might work - but it would still be messy and much less effective than cyanide, for example.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$









      • 16




        $begingroup$
        I've had amalgam tooth fillings. I'm still alive.
        $endgroup$
        – Mazura
        2 days ago






      • 25




        $begingroup$
        Still alive now, but if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health...
        $endgroup$
        – Penguino
        2 days ago






      • 7




        $begingroup$
        Ah, so Cyanide Gushers™ Bullets are the answer. Got it.
        $endgroup$
        – Broots Waymb
        2 days ago








      • 2




        $begingroup$
        @Penguino if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health Probalby not. The ballistic trajectory and MoA (Minute of Angle) of an amalgam filling makes it pretty unlikely the shooter would actually be able to hit you with it, unless fired at point blank range.... which would raise questions of who would use a sniper rifle to take a point-blank shot.
        $endgroup$
        – HopelessN00b
        yesterday








      • 5




        $begingroup$
        @HopelessN00b Someone who suddenly realised their target is a lot closer than anticipated, perhaps?
        $endgroup$
        – Clonkex
        yesterday














      27












      27








      27





      $begingroup$

      No.



      If we just dip the bullet in mercury, only trace amounts of mercury will remain. That definitely won't be enough mercury for our purposes.



      If we treat a lead (but not iron/steel) bullet for a long time in mercury it will form an amalgam alloy. This can give us sufficient amount of mercury, but adversely affect bullet ballistics. Additionally, an amalgam alloy bullet will likely be removed by subsequent surgery, again, negating our efforts.



      If we instead enclose mercury in a hollow bullet, that might work - but it would still be messy and much less effective than cyanide, for example.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      No.



      If we just dip the bullet in mercury, only trace amounts of mercury will remain. That definitely won't be enough mercury for our purposes.



      If we treat a lead (but not iron/steel) bullet for a long time in mercury it will form an amalgam alloy. This can give us sufficient amount of mercury, but adversely affect bullet ballistics. Additionally, an amalgam alloy bullet will likely be removed by subsequent surgery, again, negating our efforts.



      If we instead enclose mercury in a hollow bullet, that might work - but it would still be messy and much less effective than cyanide, for example.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Apr 3 at 21:41

























      answered Apr 3 at 17:46









      AlexanderAlexander

      21.9k53586




      21.9k53586








      • 16




        $begingroup$
        I've had amalgam tooth fillings. I'm still alive.
        $endgroup$
        – Mazura
        2 days ago






      • 25




        $begingroup$
        Still alive now, but if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health...
        $endgroup$
        – Penguino
        2 days ago






      • 7




        $begingroup$
        Ah, so Cyanide Gushers™ Bullets are the answer. Got it.
        $endgroup$
        – Broots Waymb
        2 days ago








      • 2




        $begingroup$
        @Penguino if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health Probalby not. The ballistic trajectory and MoA (Minute of Angle) of an amalgam filling makes it pretty unlikely the shooter would actually be able to hit you with it, unless fired at point blank range.... which would raise questions of who would use a sniper rifle to take a point-blank shot.
        $endgroup$
        – HopelessN00b
        yesterday








      • 5




        $begingroup$
        @HopelessN00b Someone who suddenly realised their target is a lot closer than anticipated, perhaps?
        $endgroup$
        – Clonkex
        yesterday














      • 16




        $begingroup$
        I've had amalgam tooth fillings. I'm still alive.
        $endgroup$
        – Mazura
        2 days ago






      • 25




        $begingroup$
        Still alive now, but if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health...
        $endgroup$
        – Penguino
        2 days ago






      • 7




        $begingroup$
        Ah, so Cyanide Gushers™ Bullets are the answer. Got it.
        $endgroup$
        – Broots Waymb
        2 days ago








      • 2




        $begingroup$
        @Penguino if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health Probalby not. The ballistic trajectory and MoA (Minute of Angle) of an amalgam filling makes it pretty unlikely the shooter would actually be able to hit you with it, unless fired at point blank range.... which would raise questions of who would use a sniper rifle to take a point-blank shot.
        $endgroup$
        – HopelessN00b
        yesterday








      • 5




        $begingroup$
        @HopelessN00b Someone who suddenly realised their target is a lot closer than anticipated, perhaps?
        $endgroup$
        – Clonkex
        yesterday








      16




      16




      $begingroup$
      I've had amalgam tooth fillings. I'm still alive.
      $endgroup$
      – Mazura
      2 days ago




      $begingroup$
      I've had amalgam tooth fillings. I'm still alive.
      $endgroup$
      – Mazura
      2 days ago




      25




      25




      $begingroup$
      Still alive now, but if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health...
      $endgroup$
      – Penguino
      2 days ago




      $begingroup$
      Still alive now, but if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health...
      $endgroup$
      – Penguino
      2 days ago




      7




      7




      $begingroup$
      Ah, so Cyanide Gushers™ Bullets are the answer. Got it.
      $endgroup$
      – Broots Waymb
      2 days ago






      $begingroup$
      Ah, so Cyanide Gushers™ Bullets are the answer. Got it.
      $endgroup$
      – Broots Waymb
      2 days ago






      2




      2




      $begingroup$
      @Penguino if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health Probalby not. The ballistic trajectory and MoA (Minute of Angle) of an amalgam filling makes it pretty unlikely the shooter would actually be able to hit you with it, unless fired at point blank range.... which would raise questions of who would use a sniper rifle to take a point-blank shot.
      $endgroup$
      – HopelessN00b
      yesterday






      $begingroup$
      @Penguino if someone fires an amalgam filling at you with a sniper rifle it might be bad for your health Probalby not. The ballistic trajectory and MoA (Minute of Angle) of an amalgam filling makes it pretty unlikely the shooter would actually be able to hit you with it, unless fired at point blank range.... which would raise questions of who would use a sniper rifle to take a point-blank shot.
      $endgroup$
      – HopelessN00b
      yesterday






      5




      5




      $begingroup$
      @HopelessN00b Someone who suddenly realised their target is a lot closer than anticipated, perhaps?
      $endgroup$
      – Clonkex
      yesterday




      $begingroup$
      @HopelessN00b Someone who suddenly realised their target is a lot closer than anticipated, perhaps?
      $endgroup$
      – Clonkex
      yesterday











      20












      $begingroup$

      Mercury has, in the real world, been used to increase the terminal effect of hollow point bullets (especially a the relatively low velocity of pistol bullets). In essence, a short time before firing (so as not to have all the mercury amalgamated with the lead, but some liquid still left at firing) a conventional hollow point is filled with mercury. It was common to press a small caliber gas check (a soft metal disk of precise diameter, with a raised edge) into the hollow point to keep the mercury in place.



      On impact, the liquid in the hollow point magnified the hydraulic effect, leading to much stronger and faster expansion of the bullet. The mercury itself was chemically insignificant; it was the expansion effect that was sought. Worth noting here that my source (an article in a gun/reloading publication, but I don't recall which, much less what 1970s vintage issue) also found that the effect was essentially the same using water or oil; any difference between mercury and water being attributable to the greater increase in bullet weight.



      Most who use guns for defense now consider penetration more important than expansion, so mercury tip bullets (which have long been legally prohibited as "toxic", however erroneously) are no longer widely considered an effective modification.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$









      • 9




        $begingroup$
        Citation needed. I'm pretty certain it has always been a fictional device, with no practical real world implementation. Mercury tipped bullets will, at best, be no better than the normal kind.
        $endgroup$
        – Starfish Prime
        Apr 3 at 18:31






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        Can't give a citation. I read about this in a gun/reloading source, an article with a "mythbusting" attitude, which showed that yes, there was a definite effect of increasing expansion -- but it was in the 1970s, when hollow points were the rage and those who advocated penetration were largely ignored, at least in the press, and after forty-some years, I don't recall the source. The same article, as I recall, showed that the same effect was obtainable without legal issues using vegetable oil or plain water.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:37






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        I did find a video of an NaK-filled bullet being used. The alloy is liquid at room temperature. It was shot at very close range (probably a necessity to ensure it actually reached the target) and doesn't appear to be noticably better at expansion than potassium which is merely very soft. Note that in all the cases, the bullet isn't "tipped" so much as the jacket being completely emptied of lead and refilled.
        $endgroup$
        – Starfish Prime
        Apr 3 at 18:58






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        NaK is so light this isn't a good comparison. Lead is many times denser,and mercury a bit denser than that.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 19:07






      • 9




        $begingroup$
        I suspect the "toxic" designation for the bullet is not so much referring to the effect of the mercury on the target (who generally has more important bullet wound trauma to deal with), but to the effect on the environment around them when the bullet exits their body (or when a bullet hits something else, in the case of a missed shot). It would be a pain to clean up bits of mercury scattered all over the area, and dangerous to the cleaning personnel.
        $endgroup$
        – Blckknght
        Apr 3 at 21:14
















      20












      $begingroup$

      Mercury has, in the real world, been used to increase the terminal effect of hollow point bullets (especially a the relatively low velocity of pistol bullets). In essence, a short time before firing (so as not to have all the mercury amalgamated with the lead, but some liquid still left at firing) a conventional hollow point is filled with mercury. It was common to press a small caliber gas check (a soft metal disk of precise diameter, with a raised edge) into the hollow point to keep the mercury in place.



      On impact, the liquid in the hollow point magnified the hydraulic effect, leading to much stronger and faster expansion of the bullet. The mercury itself was chemically insignificant; it was the expansion effect that was sought. Worth noting here that my source (an article in a gun/reloading publication, but I don't recall which, much less what 1970s vintage issue) also found that the effect was essentially the same using water or oil; any difference between mercury and water being attributable to the greater increase in bullet weight.



      Most who use guns for defense now consider penetration more important than expansion, so mercury tip bullets (which have long been legally prohibited as "toxic", however erroneously) are no longer widely considered an effective modification.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$









      • 9




        $begingroup$
        Citation needed. I'm pretty certain it has always been a fictional device, with no practical real world implementation. Mercury tipped bullets will, at best, be no better than the normal kind.
        $endgroup$
        – Starfish Prime
        Apr 3 at 18:31






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        Can't give a citation. I read about this in a gun/reloading source, an article with a "mythbusting" attitude, which showed that yes, there was a definite effect of increasing expansion -- but it was in the 1970s, when hollow points were the rage and those who advocated penetration were largely ignored, at least in the press, and after forty-some years, I don't recall the source. The same article, as I recall, showed that the same effect was obtainable without legal issues using vegetable oil or plain water.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:37






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        I did find a video of an NaK-filled bullet being used. The alloy is liquid at room temperature. It was shot at very close range (probably a necessity to ensure it actually reached the target) and doesn't appear to be noticably better at expansion than potassium which is merely very soft. Note that in all the cases, the bullet isn't "tipped" so much as the jacket being completely emptied of lead and refilled.
        $endgroup$
        – Starfish Prime
        Apr 3 at 18:58






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        NaK is so light this isn't a good comparison. Lead is many times denser,and mercury a bit denser than that.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 19:07






      • 9




        $begingroup$
        I suspect the "toxic" designation for the bullet is not so much referring to the effect of the mercury on the target (who generally has more important bullet wound trauma to deal with), but to the effect on the environment around them when the bullet exits their body (or when a bullet hits something else, in the case of a missed shot). It would be a pain to clean up bits of mercury scattered all over the area, and dangerous to the cleaning personnel.
        $endgroup$
        – Blckknght
        Apr 3 at 21:14














      20












      20








      20





      $begingroup$

      Mercury has, in the real world, been used to increase the terminal effect of hollow point bullets (especially a the relatively low velocity of pistol bullets). In essence, a short time before firing (so as not to have all the mercury amalgamated with the lead, but some liquid still left at firing) a conventional hollow point is filled with mercury. It was common to press a small caliber gas check (a soft metal disk of precise diameter, with a raised edge) into the hollow point to keep the mercury in place.



      On impact, the liquid in the hollow point magnified the hydraulic effect, leading to much stronger and faster expansion of the bullet. The mercury itself was chemically insignificant; it was the expansion effect that was sought. Worth noting here that my source (an article in a gun/reloading publication, but I don't recall which, much less what 1970s vintage issue) also found that the effect was essentially the same using water or oil; any difference between mercury and water being attributable to the greater increase in bullet weight.



      Most who use guns for defense now consider penetration more important than expansion, so mercury tip bullets (which have long been legally prohibited as "toxic", however erroneously) are no longer widely considered an effective modification.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      Mercury has, in the real world, been used to increase the terminal effect of hollow point bullets (especially a the relatively low velocity of pistol bullets). In essence, a short time before firing (so as not to have all the mercury amalgamated with the lead, but some liquid still left at firing) a conventional hollow point is filled with mercury. It was common to press a small caliber gas check (a soft metal disk of precise diameter, with a raised edge) into the hollow point to keep the mercury in place.



      On impact, the liquid in the hollow point magnified the hydraulic effect, leading to much stronger and faster expansion of the bullet. The mercury itself was chemically insignificant; it was the expansion effect that was sought. Worth noting here that my source (an article in a gun/reloading publication, but I don't recall which, much less what 1970s vintage issue) also found that the effect was essentially the same using water or oil; any difference between mercury and water being attributable to the greater increase in bullet weight.



      Most who use guns for defense now consider penetration more important than expansion, so mercury tip bullets (which have long been legally prohibited as "toxic", however erroneously) are no longer widely considered an effective modification.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Apr 3 at 19:18









      Brythan

      20.9k74286




      20.9k74286










      answered Apr 3 at 18:00









      Zeiss IkonZeiss Ikon

      2,484117




      2,484117








      • 9




        $begingroup$
        Citation needed. I'm pretty certain it has always been a fictional device, with no practical real world implementation. Mercury tipped bullets will, at best, be no better than the normal kind.
        $endgroup$
        – Starfish Prime
        Apr 3 at 18:31






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        Can't give a citation. I read about this in a gun/reloading source, an article with a "mythbusting" attitude, which showed that yes, there was a definite effect of increasing expansion -- but it was in the 1970s, when hollow points were the rage and those who advocated penetration were largely ignored, at least in the press, and after forty-some years, I don't recall the source. The same article, as I recall, showed that the same effect was obtainable without legal issues using vegetable oil or plain water.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:37






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        I did find a video of an NaK-filled bullet being used. The alloy is liquid at room temperature. It was shot at very close range (probably a necessity to ensure it actually reached the target) and doesn't appear to be noticably better at expansion than potassium which is merely very soft. Note that in all the cases, the bullet isn't "tipped" so much as the jacket being completely emptied of lead and refilled.
        $endgroup$
        – Starfish Prime
        Apr 3 at 18:58






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        NaK is so light this isn't a good comparison. Lead is many times denser,and mercury a bit denser than that.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 19:07






      • 9




        $begingroup$
        I suspect the "toxic" designation for the bullet is not so much referring to the effect of the mercury on the target (who generally has more important bullet wound trauma to deal with), but to the effect on the environment around them when the bullet exits their body (or when a bullet hits something else, in the case of a missed shot). It would be a pain to clean up bits of mercury scattered all over the area, and dangerous to the cleaning personnel.
        $endgroup$
        – Blckknght
        Apr 3 at 21:14














      • 9




        $begingroup$
        Citation needed. I'm pretty certain it has always been a fictional device, with no practical real world implementation. Mercury tipped bullets will, at best, be no better than the normal kind.
        $endgroup$
        – Starfish Prime
        Apr 3 at 18:31






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        Can't give a citation. I read about this in a gun/reloading source, an article with a "mythbusting" attitude, which showed that yes, there was a definite effect of increasing expansion -- but it was in the 1970s, when hollow points were the rage and those who advocated penetration were largely ignored, at least in the press, and after forty-some years, I don't recall the source. The same article, as I recall, showed that the same effect was obtainable without legal issues using vegetable oil or plain water.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:37






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        I did find a video of an NaK-filled bullet being used. The alloy is liquid at room temperature. It was shot at very close range (probably a necessity to ensure it actually reached the target) and doesn't appear to be noticably better at expansion than potassium which is merely very soft. Note that in all the cases, the bullet isn't "tipped" so much as the jacket being completely emptied of lead and refilled.
        $endgroup$
        – Starfish Prime
        Apr 3 at 18:58






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        NaK is so light this isn't a good comparison. Lead is many times denser,and mercury a bit denser than that.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 19:07






      • 9




        $begingroup$
        I suspect the "toxic" designation for the bullet is not so much referring to the effect of the mercury on the target (who generally has more important bullet wound trauma to deal with), but to the effect on the environment around them when the bullet exits their body (or when a bullet hits something else, in the case of a missed shot). It would be a pain to clean up bits of mercury scattered all over the area, and dangerous to the cleaning personnel.
        $endgroup$
        – Blckknght
        Apr 3 at 21:14








      9




      9




      $begingroup$
      Citation needed. I'm pretty certain it has always been a fictional device, with no practical real world implementation. Mercury tipped bullets will, at best, be no better than the normal kind.
      $endgroup$
      – Starfish Prime
      Apr 3 at 18:31




      $begingroup$
      Citation needed. I'm pretty certain it has always been a fictional device, with no practical real world implementation. Mercury tipped bullets will, at best, be no better than the normal kind.
      $endgroup$
      – Starfish Prime
      Apr 3 at 18:31




      4




      4




      $begingroup$
      Can't give a citation. I read about this in a gun/reloading source, an article with a "mythbusting" attitude, which showed that yes, there was a definite effect of increasing expansion -- but it was in the 1970s, when hollow points were the rage and those who advocated penetration were largely ignored, at least in the press, and after forty-some years, I don't recall the source. The same article, as I recall, showed that the same effect was obtainable without legal issues using vegetable oil or plain water.
      $endgroup$
      – Zeiss Ikon
      Apr 3 at 18:37




      $begingroup$
      Can't give a citation. I read about this in a gun/reloading source, an article with a "mythbusting" attitude, which showed that yes, there was a definite effect of increasing expansion -- but it was in the 1970s, when hollow points were the rage and those who advocated penetration were largely ignored, at least in the press, and after forty-some years, I don't recall the source. The same article, as I recall, showed that the same effect was obtainable without legal issues using vegetable oil or plain water.
      $endgroup$
      – Zeiss Ikon
      Apr 3 at 18:37




      3




      3




      $begingroup$
      I did find a video of an NaK-filled bullet being used. The alloy is liquid at room temperature. It was shot at very close range (probably a necessity to ensure it actually reached the target) and doesn't appear to be noticably better at expansion than potassium which is merely very soft. Note that in all the cases, the bullet isn't "tipped" so much as the jacket being completely emptied of lead and refilled.
      $endgroup$
      – Starfish Prime
      Apr 3 at 18:58




      $begingroup$
      I did find a video of an NaK-filled bullet being used. The alloy is liquid at room temperature. It was shot at very close range (probably a necessity to ensure it actually reached the target) and doesn't appear to be noticably better at expansion than potassium which is merely very soft. Note that in all the cases, the bullet isn't "tipped" so much as the jacket being completely emptied of lead and refilled.
      $endgroup$
      – Starfish Prime
      Apr 3 at 18:58




      3




      3




      $begingroup$
      NaK is so light this isn't a good comparison. Lead is many times denser,and mercury a bit denser than that.
      $endgroup$
      – Zeiss Ikon
      Apr 3 at 19:07




      $begingroup$
      NaK is so light this isn't a good comparison. Lead is many times denser,and mercury a bit denser than that.
      $endgroup$
      – Zeiss Ikon
      Apr 3 at 19:07




      9




      9




      $begingroup$
      I suspect the "toxic" designation for the bullet is not so much referring to the effect of the mercury on the target (who generally has more important bullet wound trauma to deal with), but to the effect on the environment around them when the bullet exits their body (or when a bullet hits something else, in the case of a missed shot). It would be a pain to clean up bits of mercury scattered all over the area, and dangerous to the cleaning personnel.
      $endgroup$
      – Blckknght
      Apr 3 at 21:14




      $begingroup$
      I suspect the "toxic" designation for the bullet is not so much referring to the effect of the mercury on the target (who generally has more important bullet wound trauma to deal with), but to the effect on the environment around them when the bullet exits their body (or when a bullet hits something else, in the case of a missed shot). It would be a pain to clean up bits of mercury scattered all over the area, and dangerous to the cleaning personnel.
      $endgroup$
      – Blckknght
      Apr 3 at 21:14











      12












      $begingroup$

      While the answer to the question is not a hard no, there are way better options for the same effect.



      If your goal is death by "heavy metal poisoning", then I'd suggest depleted uranium rounds instead. Uranium is far more toxic than mercury, plus comes with some impressive armor penetrating properties as an added bonus. DU rounds also have a tendency to liquify/vaporize on impact so even though it's solid at rest, it can still splatter on impact fatally infecting the wounded person's bloodstream, but as David pointed out, getting them to splatter against soft tissue is unlikely.



      Either way, heavy metal poisoning is a slow death which is probably not what an assassin wants on a near miss. A better approach would probably be a low-caliber explosive round. While they violate all sorts of international laws and treaties, an explosive rifle round to the arm, leg, or gut would still cause enough mutilation that your target is likely to quickly bleed out and die.



      If you really want to be inhuman, combine the ideas by making a sodium/potassium round with a DU jacket. If the blast does not kill you, the DU shrapnel will, and if that fails, the blast will still vaporize a lethal dose of uranium into your bloodstream.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        DU rounds from A10's were used for anti personnel operations during Iraq 1/Desert Storm. Rumor says that the effect was roughly the same as a giant sausage grinder going through the camps. You might call that heavy metal poisoning, but not in the strictly chemical sense of the word.
        $endgroup$
        – pojo-guy
        yesterday






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Actually, DU is not useful for this. There are veterans with DU shrapnel still walking around years afterwards (ditton with lead bullets - toxic, not absorbed via that route) . DU dust or vapour is much, much more toxic.
        $endgroup$
        – David Hambling
        yesterday






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        DU has a tendency to vaporize when hitting armor. Not when hitting a person.
        $endgroup$
        – Loren Pechtel
        21 hours ago
















      12












      $begingroup$

      While the answer to the question is not a hard no, there are way better options for the same effect.



      If your goal is death by "heavy metal poisoning", then I'd suggest depleted uranium rounds instead. Uranium is far more toxic than mercury, plus comes with some impressive armor penetrating properties as an added bonus. DU rounds also have a tendency to liquify/vaporize on impact so even though it's solid at rest, it can still splatter on impact fatally infecting the wounded person's bloodstream, but as David pointed out, getting them to splatter against soft tissue is unlikely.



      Either way, heavy metal poisoning is a slow death which is probably not what an assassin wants on a near miss. A better approach would probably be a low-caliber explosive round. While they violate all sorts of international laws and treaties, an explosive rifle round to the arm, leg, or gut would still cause enough mutilation that your target is likely to quickly bleed out and die.



      If you really want to be inhuman, combine the ideas by making a sodium/potassium round with a DU jacket. If the blast does not kill you, the DU shrapnel will, and if that fails, the blast will still vaporize a lethal dose of uranium into your bloodstream.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        DU rounds from A10's were used for anti personnel operations during Iraq 1/Desert Storm. Rumor says that the effect was roughly the same as a giant sausage grinder going through the camps. You might call that heavy metal poisoning, but not in the strictly chemical sense of the word.
        $endgroup$
        – pojo-guy
        yesterday






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Actually, DU is not useful for this. There are veterans with DU shrapnel still walking around years afterwards (ditton with lead bullets - toxic, not absorbed via that route) . DU dust or vapour is much, much more toxic.
        $endgroup$
        – David Hambling
        yesterday






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        DU has a tendency to vaporize when hitting armor. Not when hitting a person.
        $endgroup$
        – Loren Pechtel
        21 hours ago














      12












      12








      12





      $begingroup$

      While the answer to the question is not a hard no, there are way better options for the same effect.



      If your goal is death by "heavy metal poisoning", then I'd suggest depleted uranium rounds instead. Uranium is far more toxic than mercury, plus comes with some impressive armor penetrating properties as an added bonus. DU rounds also have a tendency to liquify/vaporize on impact so even though it's solid at rest, it can still splatter on impact fatally infecting the wounded person's bloodstream, but as David pointed out, getting them to splatter against soft tissue is unlikely.



      Either way, heavy metal poisoning is a slow death which is probably not what an assassin wants on a near miss. A better approach would probably be a low-caliber explosive round. While they violate all sorts of international laws and treaties, an explosive rifle round to the arm, leg, or gut would still cause enough mutilation that your target is likely to quickly bleed out and die.



      If you really want to be inhuman, combine the ideas by making a sodium/potassium round with a DU jacket. If the blast does not kill you, the DU shrapnel will, and if that fails, the blast will still vaporize a lethal dose of uranium into your bloodstream.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      While the answer to the question is not a hard no, there are way better options for the same effect.



      If your goal is death by "heavy metal poisoning", then I'd suggest depleted uranium rounds instead. Uranium is far more toxic than mercury, plus comes with some impressive armor penetrating properties as an added bonus. DU rounds also have a tendency to liquify/vaporize on impact so even though it's solid at rest, it can still splatter on impact fatally infecting the wounded person's bloodstream, but as David pointed out, getting them to splatter against soft tissue is unlikely.



      Either way, heavy metal poisoning is a slow death which is probably not what an assassin wants on a near miss. A better approach would probably be a low-caliber explosive round. While they violate all sorts of international laws and treaties, an explosive rifle round to the arm, leg, or gut would still cause enough mutilation that your target is likely to quickly bleed out and die.



      If you really want to be inhuman, combine the ideas by making a sodium/potassium round with a DU jacket. If the blast does not kill you, the DU shrapnel will, and if that fails, the blast will still vaporize a lethal dose of uranium into your bloodstream.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited yesterday

























      answered Apr 3 at 22:01









      NosajimikiNosajimiki

      2,460119




      2,460119












      • $begingroup$
        DU rounds from A10's were used for anti personnel operations during Iraq 1/Desert Storm. Rumor says that the effect was roughly the same as a giant sausage grinder going through the camps. You might call that heavy metal poisoning, but not in the strictly chemical sense of the word.
        $endgroup$
        – pojo-guy
        yesterday






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Actually, DU is not useful for this. There are veterans with DU shrapnel still walking around years afterwards (ditton with lead bullets - toxic, not absorbed via that route) . DU dust or vapour is much, much more toxic.
        $endgroup$
        – David Hambling
        yesterday






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        DU has a tendency to vaporize when hitting armor. Not when hitting a person.
        $endgroup$
        – Loren Pechtel
        21 hours ago


















      • $begingroup$
        DU rounds from A10's were used for anti personnel operations during Iraq 1/Desert Storm. Rumor says that the effect was roughly the same as a giant sausage grinder going through the camps. You might call that heavy metal poisoning, but not in the strictly chemical sense of the word.
        $endgroup$
        – pojo-guy
        yesterday






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Actually, DU is not useful for this. There are veterans with DU shrapnel still walking around years afterwards (ditton with lead bullets - toxic, not absorbed via that route) . DU dust or vapour is much, much more toxic.
        $endgroup$
        – David Hambling
        yesterday






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        DU has a tendency to vaporize when hitting armor. Not when hitting a person.
        $endgroup$
        – Loren Pechtel
        21 hours ago
















      $begingroup$
      DU rounds from A10's were used for anti personnel operations during Iraq 1/Desert Storm. Rumor says that the effect was roughly the same as a giant sausage grinder going through the camps. You might call that heavy metal poisoning, but not in the strictly chemical sense of the word.
      $endgroup$
      – pojo-guy
      yesterday




      $begingroup$
      DU rounds from A10's were used for anti personnel operations during Iraq 1/Desert Storm. Rumor says that the effect was roughly the same as a giant sausage grinder going through the camps. You might call that heavy metal poisoning, but not in the strictly chemical sense of the word.
      $endgroup$
      – pojo-guy
      yesterday




      1




      1




      $begingroup$
      Actually, DU is not useful for this. There are veterans with DU shrapnel still walking around years afterwards (ditton with lead bullets - toxic, not absorbed via that route) . DU dust or vapour is much, much more toxic.
      $endgroup$
      – David Hambling
      yesterday




      $begingroup$
      Actually, DU is not useful for this. There are veterans with DU shrapnel still walking around years afterwards (ditton with lead bullets - toxic, not absorbed via that route) . DU dust or vapour is much, much more toxic.
      $endgroup$
      – David Hambling
      yesterday




      1




      1




      $begingroup$
      DU has a tendency to vaporize when hitting armor. Not when hitting a person.
      $endgroup$
      – Loren Pechtel
      21 hours ago




      $begingroup$
      DU has a tendency to vaporize when hitting armor. Not when hitting a person.
      $endgroup$
      – Loren Pechtel
      21 hours ago











      11












      $begingroup$

      No.



      Not even in the form of dimethylmercury.



      This extremely nasty organic compound was being carefully used by professional toxic metal researcher Karen Wetterhahn when a few small drops of it touched the outside of her latex gloves. At the time it was not known that this noxious substance could travel through latex. Nothing could be done, she died less than a year later.



      To make enough stick to a (hot - >100 celsius) bullet in flight, because it would otherwise evaporate before reaching your target, dipping the bullet would not work, you'd need some water soluble delivery system which releases after impact which would not satisfy the requirements of the question - but careful how your protagonist uses it, lest they succumb the same way.



      Edited due to being wrong all over.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$









      • 6




        $begingroup$
        How hot do bullets get when fired?. TL;DR: at least 100 degrees Celsius, above the boiling point of dimethylmercury.
        $endgroup$
        – Brythan
        Apr 3 at 19:17






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        I guess you could drill a hole in the end of the bullet, fill it with the noxious substance and then plug it with something like epoxy. A few tests with dye and ballistic gel would confirm whether it's effective or not.
        $endgroup$
        – Spehro Pefhany
        Apr 3 at 20:13


















      11












      $begingroup$

      No.



      Not even in the form of dimethylmercury.



      This extremely nasty organic compound was being carefully used by professional toxic metal researcher Karen Wetterhahn when a few small drops of it touched the outside of her latex gloves. At the time it was not known that this noxious substance could travel through latex. Nothing could be done, she died less than a year later.



      To make enough stick to a (hot - >100 celsius) bullet in flight, because it would otherwise evaporate before reaching your target, dipping the bullet would not work, you'd need some water soluble delivery system which releases after impact which would not satisfy the requirements of the question - but careful how your protagonist uses it, lest they succumb the same way.



      Edited due to being wrong all over.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$









      • 6




        $begingroup$
        How hot do bullets get when fired?. TL;DR: at least 100 degrees Celsius, above the boiling point of dimethylmercury.
        $endgroup$
        – Brythan
        Apr 3 at 19:17






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        I guess you could drill a hole in the end of the bullet, fill it with the noxious substance and then plug it with something like epoxy. A few tests with dye and ballistic gel would confirm whether it's effective or not.
        $endgroup$
        – Spehro Pefhany
        Apr 3 at 20:13
















      11












      11








      11





      $begingroup$

      No.



      Not even in the form of dimethylmercury.



      This extremely nasty organic compound was being carefully used by professional toxic metal researcher Karen Wetterhahn when a few small drops of it touched the outside of her latex gloves. At the time it was not known that this noxious substance could travel through latex. Nothing could be done, she died less than a year later.



      To make enough stick to a (hot - >100 celsius) bullet in flight, because it would otherwise evaporate before reaching your target, dipping the bullet would not work, you'd need some water soluble delivery system which releases after impact which would not satisfy the requirements of the question - but careful how your protagonist uses it, lest they succumb the same way.



      Edited due to being wrong all over.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      No.



      Not even in the form of dimethylmercury.



      This extremely nasty organic compound was being carefully used by professional toxic metal researcher Karen Wetterhahn when a few small drops of it touched the outside of her latex gloves. At the time it was not known that this noxious substance could travel through latex. Nothing could be done, she died less than a year later.



      To make enough stick to a (hot - >100 celsius) bullet in flight, because it would otherwise evaporate before reaching your target, dipping the bullet would not work, you'd need some water soluble delivery system which releases after impact which would not satisfy the requirements of the question - but careful how your protagonist uses it, lest they succumb the same way.



      Edited due to being wrong all over.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Apr 3 at 19:34

























      answered Apr 3 at 17:57









      AgrajagAgrajag

      7,11411550




      7,11411550








      • 6




        $begingroup$
        How hot do bullets get when fired?. TL;DR: at least 100 degrees Celsius, above the boiling point of dimethylmercury.
        $endgroup$
        – Brythan
        Apr 3 at 19:17






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        I guess you could drill a hole in the end of the bullet, fill it with the noxious substance and then plug it with something like epoxy. A few tests with dye and ballistic gel would confirm whether it's effective or not.
        $endgroup$
        – Spehro Pefhany
        Apr 3 at 20:13
















      • 6




        $begingroup$
        How hot do bullets get when fired?. TL;DR: at least 100 degrees Celsius, above the boiling point of dimethylmercury.
        $endgroup$
        – Brythan
        Apr 3 at 19:17






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        I guess you could drill a hole in the end of the bullet, fill it with the noxious substance and then plug it with something like epoxy. A few tests with dye and ballistic gel would confirm whether it's effective or not.
        $endgroup$
        – Spehro Pefhany
        Apr 3 at 20:13










      6




      6




      $begingroup$
      How hot do bullets get when fired?. TL;DR: at least 100 degrees Celsius, above the boiling point of dimethylmercury.
      $endgroup$
      – Brythan
      Apr 3 at 19:17




      $begingroup$
      How hot do bullets get when fired?. TL;DR: at least 100 degrees Celsius, above the boiling point of dimethylmercury.
      $endgroup$
      – Brythan
      Apr 3 at 19:17




      3




      3




      $begingroup$
      I guess you could drill a hole in the end of the bullet, fill it with the noxious substance and then plug it with something like epoxy. A few tests with dye and ballistic gel would confirm whether it's effective or not.
      $endgroup$
      – Spehro Pefhany
      Apr 3 at 20:13






      $begingroup$
      I guess you could drill a hole in the end of the bullet, fill it with the noxious substance and then plug it with something like epoxy. A few tests with dye and ballistic gel would confirm whether it's effective or not.
      $endgroup$
      – Spehro Pefhany
      Apr 3 at 20:13













      6












      $begingroup$

      Mercury as a LD50 of between 1mg/kg to 100 mg/kg. depending on the chemical properties of the mercury you choose to use you may need up to 10g to make if potentially lethal. Assuming you use the most soluble form of mercury, you would still want to up the dose significantly to overcome elements such as splatter, bullet passing through entirely or just not absorbed by the body. This would add significantly to the weight of the bullet and may mess with its ballistics.



      If you choose another element, such as polonium or plutonium, you may have better success. Both are highly toxic due to chemical toxicity and radiological toxicity. I'm not entirely sure of the chemical properties of polonium, but plutonium is a dense metal, similar to uranium. It can easily be made into a bullet that shoots properly, similar to depleted uranium. You would only need 5mg to be chemically toxic. If you have a 7.5g mixed metal plutonium round, it would ensure poisoning of the target. However, that death by heavy metal poisoning would take a long while to occur, depending on the amount of metal the body absorbed prior to the bullets removal.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$









      • 2




        $begingroup$
        I'm pretty sure the atomic regulatory agency in whatever jurisdiction our assassin lives would get very interested if they set out to acquire any amount of plutonium, even milligrams.
        $endgroup$
        – Blckknght
        2 days ago










      • $begingroup$
        Great thing about plutonium is it tends to be a waste product in LEU reactors, (Pu-238 and 240 are readily produced and is effectively useless for further fissions.) Now if you find a location that has lax controls on their spent fuel waste, then it would be fairly easy to acquire.
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        2 days ago
















      6












      $begingroup$

      Mercury as a LD50 of between 1mg/kg to 100 mg/kg. depending on the chemical properties of the mercury you choose to use you may need up to 10g to make if potentially lethal. Assuming you use the most soluble form of mercury, you would still want to up the dose significantly to overcome elements such as splatter, bullet passing through entirely or just not absorbed by the body. This would add significantly to the weight of the bullet and may mess with its ballistics.



      If you choose another element, such as polonium or plutonium, you may have better success. Both are highly toxic due to chemical toxicity and radiological toxicity. I'm not entirely sure of the chemical properties of polonium, but plutonium is a dense metal, similar to uranium. It can easily be made into a bullet that shoots properly, similar to depleted uranium. You would only need 5mg to be chemically toxic. If you have a 7.5g mixed metal plutonium round, it would ensure poisoning of the target. However, that death by heavy metal poisoning would take a long while to occur, depending on the amount of metal the body absorbed prior to the bullets removal.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$









      • 2




        $begingroup$
        I'm pretty sure the atomic regulatory agency in whatever jurisdiction our assassin lives would get very interested if they set out to acquire any amount of plutonium, even milligrams.
        $endgroup$
        – Blckknght
        2 days ago










      • $begingroup$
        Great thing about plutonium is it tends to be a waste product in LEU reactors, (Pu-238 and 240 are readily produced and is effectively useless for further fissions.) Now if you find a location that has lax controls on their spent fuel waste, then it would be fairly easy to acquire.
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        2 days ago














      6












      6








      6





      $begingroup$

      Mercury as a LD50 of between 1mg/kg to 100 mg/kg. depending on the chemical properties of the mercury you choose to use you may need up to 10g to make if potentially lethal. Assuming you use the most soluble form of mercury, you would still want to up the dose significantly to overcome elements such as splatter, bullet passing through entirely or just not absorbed by the body. This would add significantly to the weight of the bullet and may mess with its ballistics.



      If you choose another element, such as polonium or plutonium, you may have better success. Both are highly toxic due to chemical toxicity and radiological toxicity. I'm not entirely sure of the chemical properties of polonium, but plutonium is a dense metal, similar to uranium. It can easily be made into a bullet that shoots properly, similar to depleted uranium. You would only need 5mg to be chemically toxic. If you have a 7.5g mixed metal plutonium round, it would ensure poisoning of the target. However, that death by heavy metal poisoning would take a long while to occur, depending on the amount of metal the body absorbed prior to the bullets removal.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$



      Mercury as a LD50 of between 1mg/kg to 100 mg/kg. depending on the chemical properties of the mercury you choose to use you may need up to 10g to make if potentially lethal. Assuming you use the most soluble form of mercury, you would still want to up the dose significantly to overcome elements such as splatter, bullet passing through entirely or just not absorbed by the body. This would add significantly to the weight of the bullet and may mess with its ballistics.



      If you choose another element, such as polonium or plutonium, you may have better success. Both are highly toxic due to chemical toxicity and radiological toxicity. I'm not entirely sure of the chemical properties of polonium, but plutonium is a dense metal, similar to uranium. It can easily be made into a bullet that shoots properly, similar to depleted uranium. You would only need 5mg to be chemically toxic. If you have a 7.5g mixed metal plutonium round, it would ensure poisoning of the target. However, that death by heavy metal poisoning would take a long while to occur, depending on the amount of metal the body absorbed prior to the bullets removal.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Apr 3 at 22:46









      SonvarSonvar

      7947




      7947








      • 2




        $begingroup$
        I'm pretty sure the atomic regulatory agency in whatever jurisdiction our assassin lives would get very interested if they set out to acquire any amount of plutonium, even milligrams.
        $endgroup$
        – Blckknght
        2 days ago










      • $begingroup$
        Great thing about plutonium is it tends to be a waste product in LEU reactors, (Pu-238 and 240 are readily produced and is effectively useless for further fissions.) Now if you find a location that has lax controls on their spent fuel waste, then it would be fairly easy to acquire.
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        2 days ago














      • 2




        $begingroup$
        I'm pretty sure the atomic regulatory agency in whatever jurisdiction our assassin lives would get very interested if they set out to acquire any amount of plutonium, even milligrams.
        $endgroup$
        – Blckknght
        2 days ago










      • $begingroup$
        Great thing about plutonium is it tends to be a waste product in LEU reactors, (Pu-238 and 240 are readily produced and is effectively useless for further fissions.) Now if you find a location that has lax controls on their spent fuel waste, then it would be fairly easy to acquire.
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        2 days ago








      2




      2




      $begingroup$
      I'm pretty sure the atomic regulatory agency in whatever jurisdiction our assassin lives would get very interested if they set out to acquire any amount of plutonium, even milligrams.
      $endgroup$
      – Blckknght
      2 days ago




      $begingroup$
      I'm pretty sure the atomic regulatory agency in whatever jurisdiction our assassin lives would get very interested if they set out to acquire any amount of plutonium, even milligrams.
      $endgroup$
      – Blckknght
      2 days ago












      $begingroup$
      Great thing about plutonium is it tends to be a waste product in LEU reactors, (Pu-238 and 240 are readily produced and is effectively useless for further fissions.) Now if you find a location that has lax controls on their spent fuel waste, then it would be fairly easy to acquire.
      $endgroup$
      – Sonvar
      2 days ago




      $begingroup$
      Great thing about plutonium is it tends to be a waste product in LEU reactors, (Pu-238 and 240 are readily produced and is effectively useless for further fissions.) Now if you find a location that has lax controls on their spent fuel waste, then it would be fairly easy to acquire.
      $endgroup$
      – Sonvar
      2 days ago











      4












      $begingroup$

      Mercury



      No, because you need more Mercury than the fatal dose that can be delivered in a bullet. Adding the Mercury sure will make your victim uncomfortable until the body sheds the excess amount down to acceptable levels.



      Mercury when ingested targets blood, kidneys, central nervous system, liver and the brain. Large doses of Mercury will lead to easily identifiable health symptoms Administration of a chelating agent can help reduce the effects on the body.



      Acute Mercury poisoning will lead to death, but generally that death will be due to an already existing kidney or liver damage. There is always the possibility that exposure will cause a failure of the central nervous system, which could lead to death.



      In essence, that big new hole in the body from he gunshot wound will be far more fatal either from tissue damage or a secondary infection.




      • https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/96252.htm






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        Metallic mercury doesn't form soluble compounds easily. if the mercury isn't already in an organic compound form, it's not noticeably worse than lead -- and contrary to popular fiction, bullets are usually left in the body, because removing them will do more harm than leaving them will.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:24










      • $begingroup$
        @ZeissIkon Surely that seems counter-productive though? Would someone not get lead-poisioning by leaving that bullet inside their body for years? I know that sharp objects that enter the body are usually left in before being removed by medical professionals to prevent further bleeding. I’ve seen vets remove shotgun pellets from a dog before so i am unsure if a doctor would leave a bullet in a human, or at least if that is standard practice.
        $endgroup$
        – Liam Morris
        Apr 3 at 18:35






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        The body "encysts" foreign objects in scar tissue, which insulates the lead bullet from body fluids. The only time bullets are routinely removed if if they're in a location where friction from movement will break down the cyst, or if they're in a location where there's risk of the bullet moving in a harmful way (in the brain, immediately by the spinal cord or aorta, for instance).
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:42










      • $begingroup$
        @ZeissIkon Oh right, i did not know this. I thought that, just by being in the body, the lead would permeate through the skin and cause lead poisoning that way. I would also assume that, if it were possible to easily remove the bullet (such as if it was not burried too deep) a doctor would prefer to do that than leave it in.
        $endgroup$
        – Liam Morris
        Apr 3 at 19:45
















      4












      $begingroup$

      Mercury



      No, because you need more Mercury than the fatal dose that can be delivered in a bullet. Adding the Mercury sure will make your victim uncomfortable until the body sheds the excess amount down to acceptable levels.



      Mercury when ingested targets blood, kidneys, central nervous system, liver and the brain. Large doses of Mercury will lead to easily identifiable health symptoms Administration of a chelating agent can help reduce the effects on the body.



      Acute Mercury poisoning will lead to death, but generally that death will be due to an already existing kidney or liver damage. There is always the possibility that exposure will cause a failure of the central nervous system, which could lead to death.



      In essence, that big new hole in the body from he gunshot wound will be far more fatal either from tissue damage or a secondary infection.




      • https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/96252.htm






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        Metallic mercury doesn't form soluble compounds easily. if the mercury isn't already in an organic compound form, it's not noticeably worse than lead -- and contrary to popular fiction, bullets are usually left in the body, because removing them will do more harm than leaving them will.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:24










      • $begingroup$
        @ZeissIkon Surely that seems counter-productive though? Would someone not get lead-poisioning by leaving that bullet inside their body for years? I know that sharp objects that enter the body are usually left in before being removed by medical professionals to prevent further bleeding. I’ve seen vets remove shotgun pellets from a dog before so i am unsure if a doctor would leave a bullet in a human, or at least if that is standard practice.
        $endgroup$
        – Liam Morris
        Apr 3 at 18:35






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        The body "encysts" foreign objects in scar tissue, which insulates the lead bullet from body fluids. The only time bullets are routinely removed if if they're in a location where friction from movement will break down the cyst, or if they're in a location where there's risk of the bullet moving in a harmful way (in the brain, immediately by the spinal cord or aorta, for instance).
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:42










      • $begingroup$
        @ZeissIkon Oh right, i did not know this. I thought that, just by being in the body, the lead would permeate through the skin and cause lead poisoning that way. I would also assume that, if it were possible to easily remove the bullet (such as if it was not burried too deep) a doctor would prefer to do that than leave it in.
        $endgroup$
        – Liam Morris
        Apr 3 at 19:45














      4












      4








      4





      $begingroup$

      Mercury



      No, because you need more Mercury than the fatal dose that can be delivered in a bullet. Adding the Mercury sure will make your victim uncomfortable until the body sheds the excess amount down to acceptable levels.



      Mercury when ingested targets blood, kidneys, central nervous system, liver and the brain. Large doses of Mercury will lead to easily identifiable health symptoms Administration of a chelating agent can help reduce the effects on the body.



      Acute Mercury poisoning will lead to death, but generally that death will be due to an already existing kidney or liver damage. There is always the possibility that exposure will cause a failure of the central nervous system, which could lead to death.



      In essence, that big new hole in the body from he gunshot wound will be far more fatal either from tissue damage or a secondary infection.




      • https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/96252.htm






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      Mercury



      No, because you need more Mercury than the fatal dose that can be delivered in a bullet. Adding the Mercury sure will make your victim uncomfortable until the body sheds the excess amount down to acceptable levels.



      Mercury when ingested targets blood, kidneys, central nervous system, liver and the brain. Large doses of Mercury will lead to easily identifiable health symptoms Administration of a chelating agent can help reduce the effects on the body.



      Acute Mercury poisoning will lead to death, but generally that death will be due to an already existing kidney or liver damage. There is always the possibility that exposure will cause a failure of the central nervous system, which could lead to death.



      In essence, that big new hole in the body from he gunshot wound will be far more fatal either from tissue damage or a secondary infection.




      • https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/96252.htm







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 2 days ago

























      answered Apr 3 at 18:02









      gwallygwally

      3,526814




      3,526814












      • $begingroup$
        Metallic mercury doesn't form soluble compounds easily. if the mercury isn't already in an organic compound form, it's not noticeably worse than lead -- and contrary to popular fiction, bullets are usually left in the body, because removing them will do more harm than leaving them will.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:24










      • $begingroup$
        @ZeissIkon Surely that seems counter-productive though? Would someone not get lead-poisioning by leaving that bullet inside their body for years? I know that sharp objects that enter the body are usually left in before being removed by medical professionals to prevent further bleeding. I’ve seen vets remove shotgun pellets from a dog before so i am unsure if a doctor would leave a bullet in a human, or at least if that is standard practice.
        $endgroup$
        – Liam Morris
        Apr 3 at 18:35






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        The body "encysts" foreign objects in scar tissue, which insulates the lead bullet from body fluids. The only time bullets are routinely removed if if they're in a location where friction from movement will break down the cyst, or if they're in a location where there's risk of the bullet moving in a harmful way (in the brain, immediately by the spinal cord or aorta, for instance).
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:42










      • $begingroup$
        @ZeissIkon Oh right, i did not know this. I thought that, just by being in the body, the lead would permeate through the skin and cause lead poisoning that way. I would also assume that, if it were possible to easily remove the bullet (such as if it was not burried too deep) a doctor would prefer to do that than leave it in.
        $endgroup$
        – Liam Morris
        Apr 3 at 19:45


















      • $begingroup$
        Metallic mercury doesn't form soluble compounds easily. if the mercury isn't already in an organic compound form, it's not noticeably worse than lead -- and contrary to popular fiction, bullets are usually left in the body, because removing them will do more harm than leaving them will.
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:24










      • $begingroup$
        @ZeissIkon Surely that seems counter-productive though? Would someone not get lead-poisioning by leaving that bullet inside their body for years? I know that sharp objects that enter the body are usually left in before being removed by medical professionals to prevent further bleeding. I’ve seen vets remove shotgun pellets from a dog before so i am unsure if a doctor would leave a bullet in a human, or at least if that is standard practice.
        $endgroup$
        – Liam Morris
        Apr 3 at 18:35






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        The body "encysts" foreign objects in scar tissue, which insulates the lead bullet from body fluids. The only time bullets are routinely removed if if they're in a location where friction from movement will break down the cyst, or if they're in a location where there's risk of the bullet moving in a harmful way (in the brain, immediately by the spinal cord or aorta, for instance).
        $endgroup$
        – Zeiss Ikon
        Apr 3 at 18:42










      • $begingroup$
        @ZeissIkon Oh right, i did not know this. I thought that, just by being in the body, the lead would permeate through the skin and cause lead poisoning that way. I would also assume that, if it were possible to easily remove the bullet (such as if it was not burried too deep) a doctor would prefer to do that than leave it in.
        $endgroup$
        – Liam Morris
        Apr 3 at 19:45
















      $begingroup$
      Metallic mercury doesn't form soluble compounds easily. if the mercury isn't already in an organic compound form, it's not noticeably worse than lead -- and contrary to popular fiction, bullets are usually left in the body, because removing them will do more harm than leaving them will.
      $endgroup$
      – Zeiss Ikon
      Apr 3 at 18:24




      $begingroup$
      Metallic mercury doesn't form soluble compounds easily. if the mercury isn't already in an organic compound form, it's not noticeably worse than lead -- and contrary to popular fiction, bullets are usually left in the body, because removing them will do more harm than leaving them will.
      $endgroup$
      – Zeiss Ikon
      Apr 3 at 18:24












      $begingroup$
      @ZeissIkon Surely that seems counter-productive though? Would someone not get lead-poisioning by leaving that bullet inside their body for years? I know that sharp objects that enter the body are usually left in before being removed by medical professionals to prevent further bleeding. I’ve seen vets remove shotgun pellets from a dog before so i am unsure if a doctor would leave a bullet in a human, or at least if that is standard practice.
      $endgroup$
      – Liam Morris
      Apr 3 at 18:35




      $begingroup$
      @ZeissIkon Surely that seems counter-productive though? Would someone not get lead-poisioning by leaving that bullet inside their body for years? I know that sharp objects that enter the body are usually left in before being removed by medical professionals to prevent further bleeding. I’ve seen vets remove shotgun pellets from a dog before so i am unsure if a doctor would leave a bullet in a human, or at least if that is standard practice.
      $endgroup$
      – Liam Morris
      Apr 3 at 18:35




      3




      3




      $begingroup$
      The body "encysts" foreign objects in scar tissue, which insulates the lead bullet from body fluids. The only time bullets are routinely removed if if they're in a location where friction from movement will break down the cyst, or if they're in a location where there's risk of the bullet moving in a harmful way (in the brain, immediately by the spinal cord or aorta, for instance).
      $endgroup$
      – Zeiss Ikon
      Apr 3 at 18:42




      $begingroup$
      The body "encysts" foreign objects in scar tissue, which insulates the lead bullet from body fluids. The only time bullets are routinely removed if if they're in a location where friction from movement will break down the cyst, or if they're in a location where there's risk of the bullet moving in a harmful way (in the brain, immediately by the spinal cord or aorta, for instance).
      $endgroup$
      – Zeiss Ikon
      Apr 3 at 18:42












      $begingroup$
      @ZeissIkon Oh right, i did not know this. I thought that, just by being in the body, the lead would permeate through the skin and cause lead poisoning that way. I would also assume that, if it were possible to easily remove the bullet (such as if it was not burried too deep) a doctor would prefer to do that than leave it in.
      $endgroup$
      – Liam Morris
      Apr 3 at 19:45




      $begingroup$
      @ZeissIkon Oh right, i did not know this. I thought that, just by being in the body, the lead would permeate through the skin and cause lead poisoning that way. I would also assume that, if it were possible to easily remove the bullet (such as if it was not burried too deep) a doctor would prefer to do that than leave it in.
      $endgroup$
      – Liam Morris
      Apr 3 at 19:45











      3












      $begingroup$

      Lead is already poisonous, the addition of mercury might be unnecessary if looking to increase the poisoning potential of a bullet. Instead, I would consider using toxin from poison dart frogs in the bullets.



      This toxin is highly lethal to most creatures, including humans, and was used by aboriginal tribes in the rain forest. They coated darts with this poison (likely where the frogs got their name from) and used a blowgun to inject a person with it.



      You could employ a similar mechanism with your bullets, either coating them in poison or putting the poison into a specialised bullet meant for storing the liquid and releasing it upon impact. If you really wanted to use mercury though, you could fill the bullet with that instead.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        Botulism toxin is a good poison to use
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        yesterday
















      3












      $begingroup$

      Lead is already poisonous, the addition of mercury might be unnecessary if looking to increase the poisoning potential of a bullet. Instead, I would consider using toxin from poison dart frogs in the bullets.



      This toxin is highly lethal to most creatures, including humans, and was used by aboriginal tribes in the rain forest. They coated darts with this poison (likely where the frogs got their name from) and used a blowgun to inject a person with it.



      You could employ a similar mechanism with your bullets, either coating them in poison or putting the poison into a specialised bullet meant for storing the liquid and releasing it upon impact. If you really wanted to use mercury though, you could fill the bullet with that instead.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        Botulism toxin is a good poison to use
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        yesterday














      3












      3








      3





      $begingroup$

      Lead is already poisonous, the addition of mercury might be unnecessary if looking to increase the poisoning potential of a bullet. Instead, I would consider using toxin from poison dart frogs in the bullets.



      This toxin is highly lethal to most creatures, including humans, and was used by aboriginal tribes in the rain forest. They coated darts with this poison (likely where the frogs got their name from) and used a blowgun to inject a person with it.



      You could employ a similar mechanism with your bullets, either coating them in poison or putting the poison into a specialised bullet meant for storing the liquid and releasing it upon impact. If you really wanted to use mercury though, you could fill the bullet with that instead.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      Lead is already poisonous, the addition of mercury might be unnecessary if looking to increase the poisoning potential of a bullet. Instead, I would consider using toxin from poison dart frogs in the bullets.



      This toxin is highly lethal to most creatures, including humans, and was used by aboriginal tribes in the rain forest. They coated darts with this poison (likely where the frogs got their name from) and used a blowgun to inject a person with it.



      You could employ a similar mechanism with your bullets, either coating them in poison or putting the poison into a specialised bullet meant for storing the liquid and releasing it upon impact. If you really wanted to use mercury though, you could fill the bullet with that instead.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Apr 3 at 19:19









      Brythan

      20.9k74286




      20.9k74286










      answered Apr 3 at 18:28









      Liam MorrisLiam Morris

      961216




      961216












      • $begingroup$
        Botulism toxin is a good poison to use
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        yesterday


















      • $begingroup$
        Botulism toxin is a good poison to use
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        yesterday
















      $begingroup$
      Botulism toxin is a good poison to use
      $endgroup$
      – Sonvar
      yesterday




      $begingroup$
      Botulism toxin is a good poison to use
      $endgroup$
      – Sonvar
      yesterday











      3












      $begingroup$

      As others have said mercury as a poison is just not practical. What might be possible is to use mercury embrittlement to damage vehicles.



      video of embrittlement



      Now I'm not sure how plausible it is to e.g. hit an aircraft with a mercury bullet, but if you can then mercury embrittlement process should allow the mercury to migrate through the aircraft aluminum structures and considerably weaken them. i.e. it might be able to make an otherwise nonlethal shot to an aircraft lethal






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$


















        3












        $begingroup$

        As others have said mercury as a poison is just not practical. What might be possible is to use mercury embrittlement to damage vehicles.



        video of embrittlement



        Now I'm not sure how plausible it is to e.g. hit an aircraft with a mercury bullet, but if you can then mercury embrittlement process should allow the mercury to migrate through the aircraft aluminum structures and considerably weaken them. i.e. it might be able to make an otherwise nonlethal shot to an aircraft lethal






        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$
















          3












          3








          3





          $begingroup$

          As others have said mercury as a poison is just not practical. What might be possible is to use mercury embrittlement to damage vehicles.



          video of embrittlement



          Now I'm not sure how plausible it is to e.g. hit an aircraft with a mercury bullet, but if you can then mercury embrittlement process should allow the mercury to migrate through the aircraft aluminum structures and considerably weaken them. i.e. it might be able to make an otherwise nonlethal shot to an aircraft lethal






          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          As others have said mercury as a poison is just not practical. What might be possible is to use mercury embrittlement to damage vehicles.



          video of embrittlement



          Now I'm not sure how plausible it is to e.g. hit an aircraft with a mercury bullet, but if you can then mercury embrittlement process should allow the mercury to migrate through the aircraft aluminum structures and considerably weaken them. i.e. it might be able to make an otherwise nonlethal shot to an aircraft lethal







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited yesterday

























          answered 2 days ago









          jk.jk.

          19815




          19815























              0












              $begingroup$

              No.



              If you dip you bullet in mercury, it will run off. Even if some adheres (and it doesn-t - have you seen mercury?) it will be lost in the high-temperatures following firing.



              Even if some does miraculously make it into the victim's body, traces of metallic mercury are not going to cause a health issue.



              Suggest you pick something genuinely dangerous, eg saxatoxin or one of the others used by the CIA etc






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                0












                $begingroup$

                No.



                If you dip you bullet in mercury, it will run off. Even if some adheres (and it doesn-t - have you seen mercury?) it will be lost in the high-temperatures following firing.



                Even if some does miraculously make it into the victim's body, traces of metallic mercury are not going to cause a health issue.



                Suggest you pick something genuinely dangerous, eg saxatoxin or one of the others used by the CIA etc






                share|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  0












                  0








                  0





                  $begingroup$

                  No.



                  If you dip you bullet in mercury, it will run off. Even if some adheres (and it doesn-t - have you seen mercury?) it will be lost in the high-temperatures following firing.



                  Even if some does miraculously make it into the victim's body, traces of metallic mercury are not going to cause a health issue.



                  Suggest you pick something genuinely dangerous, eg saxatoxin or one of the others used by the CIA etc






                  share|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  No.



                  If you dip you bullet in mercury, it will run off. Even if some adheres (and it doesn-t - have you seen mercury?) it will be lost in the high-temperatures following firing.



                  Even if some does miraculously make it into the victim's body, traces of metallic mercury are not going to cause a health issue.



                  Suggest you pick something genuinely dangerous, eg saxatoxin or one of the others used by the CIA etc







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered yesterday









                  David HamblingDavid Hambling

                  693




                  693






























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