novelTele Chapter 39 Oh my god! Elemental hydrogen has appeared on Earth!
Chapter 39 Oh my god! Elemental hydrogen has appeared on Earth!
Upon hearing the question, the staff member at booth number 127 gave an awkward smile, while simultaneously making subtle gestures with his right hand, indicating to his colleague next to him to take the spectrometer from him.
His colleague behind him took the spectrometer, turned around, picked up the silver ingot on the counter, and pressed the switch on the spectrometer.
Two beeps were heard, the spectrometer's detection indicator light flashed twice, and the spectrometer screen lit up.
Ag: 99.999%
It's pure silver, and the equipment isn't broken.
However, for the sake of appearances, the colleague did not hand over the spectrometer again. Instead, he took a new spectrometer, unpacked it, replaced the batteries, and handed the new spectrometer to the colleague.
After receiving the new spectrometer, the staff at booth 127 once again aimed the scanning port at the metal block in their hands and turned it on.
Two beeps were heard, and the spectrometer's detection light flashed twice.
But the screen remained blank.
He quickly turned around to look at his colleagues behind him, and this time, the test made his colleagues behind him realize that something was wrong.
The other person quickly came over, took the spectrometer and small metal block from his hand, observed them for a moment, then the new staff member flipped the metal block over, aligned the obviously cut side with the spectrometer's scanning port, and pressed the power button.
Two beeps sounded, the spectrometer indicator light flashed twice, and this time, text finally appeared on the spectrometer display screen.
Fe: 0.001%
This number indicates that the metal contains iron, but in very low amounts, almost none.
Upon seeing this, the staff member holding the spectrometer turned his attention to the metal block in his hand. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that two sides of the metal block were very smooth, while the remaining four sides had cutting marks and rust residue on the cut surfaces.
Cutting...
iron……
An idea suddenly flashed through his mind, and he picked up the spectrometer again, turned it on, and pointed it at the cut surface of the metal block.
Fe: 0.001%
The data for all four faces are almost identical.
These four data points gave him a guess, but he didn't say it out loud. Instead, he pointed the spectrometer at the two smooth surfaces and pressed the switch again.
This time, there was no data on the spectrometer.
At this point, the staff member breathed a sigh of relief, then naturally placed the metal block and spectrometer back on the counter, smiling at Qin Zheng and the other two: "Gentlemen, our spectrometer is not broken."
"As for why the spectrometer can't output data, it's actually quite simple: the atoms of the elements that make up this metal are too light, so light that they are beyond the detection range of our spectrometer."
"The lightest element that our spectrometer can detect is magnesium. It cannot detect elements that are lighter than magnesium."
"That's why you can't get any data."
"But!" The staff member's voice suddenly rose, and he raised his right index finger, then pointed sharply to the side:
"But! In addition to the XRF spectrometer, we also have a portable laser-induced breakdown spectrometer, also known as LIBS."
"This equipment is our company's latest product, priced at 45 yuan. Its main application is in lithium mines to detect the lithium content."
"Of course, the lightest element that our device can detect is actually hydrogen."
"However, as everyone knows, water molecules in the air contain a large amount of hydrogen, which can interfere with the equipment's detection signals."
"As for helium, it's an inert gas and almost never exists in solid minerals, so we can only detect lithium."
"Now let me show you!"
As the staff member explained, his colleague took a brand-new device from a nearby shelf, turned it on, and solemnly handed it to him.
The staff member at booth 127 reached out and took the LIBS scanner, shook the metal block in his hand, and placed it in the scanner port.
Turn on the switch.
Across from him, Qin Zheng's student turned to look at Qin Zheng:
"Teacher, I remember that metals lighter than magnesium are all very reactive, right?"
"Yes! Beryllium is also poisonous. You only just realized that now? It's too late!" Qin Zheng nodded, while also rebuking the student. The Fisheries Research Institute mainly studies aquatic products, including the harm of various heavy metals to aquatic products.
There are 11 elements lighter than magnesium and three metallic elements, listed from lightest to heaviest: lithium, beryllium, and sodium.
Sodium is chemically very reactive and can only be stored in kerosene.
It's impossible for it to be held in one's hands.
Beryllium is highly toxic, whether in its natural form, oxides, or fluorides; it is also a carcinogen.
Of course, this stuff is stable, so as long as you don't grind it into powder and put it in your mouth or inhale it into your lungs, you won't die that easily.
Beryllium is steel gray or silvery white in its normal state, which is very similar to this thing, but the weight is different.
The color of beryllium oxide is barely a match, but the weight is even more mismatched.
Beryllium fluoride looks like glass, but the color and weight don't match.
As for lithium, its weight does match up, but it is chemically very reactive. If it is in powder form, it will react directly with oxygen in the air and burn to form lithium oxide.
It can even react with nitrogen.
Needless to say, it gets even worse when it gets wet.
Elemental lithium must be stored in kerosene or argon gas.
It's impossible to touch it with your hand!
Under their expectant gazes, the staff member at booth 127 also completed the test, and looked at the spectrometer display screen with anticipation.
【H: 99.999%】
After carefully observing the displayed content, the staff member threw the metal block in his left hand onto the counter, then clenched his left hand into a fist and punched the spectrometer twice.
After punching twice, he picked up the metal block again to test it.
【H: 99.999%】
Then came two more punches.
After delivering those two punches, he picked up the metal block again and tested it once more.
【H: 99.999%】
There's nothing we can do. The equipment is broken, and this year's exhibition is ruined.
My salary is gone too!
He resignedly put down the spectrometer, casually tossed the metal block back to Qin Zheng, and then looked up at the others present:
"We apologize, but there's a slight problem with our equipment. No matter how we scan it, the results show that this metal is composed of hydrogen, and the content is as high as 99.999%."
"This is outrageous!"
"I'm sorry to have wasted everyone's time!" With that, the staff member bowed to the group of people in front of him, then turned to the person in charge and began to discuss packing up and leaving.
His words caused a huge uproar among the onlookers.
According to the staff at booth 134, this metal is hydrogen; it is a piece of metallic hydrogen!
Amidst the noise, Qin Zheng's students looked at him: "Teacher, we also..."
"Go find large equipment to test!" Qin Zheng turned around decisively and walked towards booth number 114.
He had just passed by and saw a booth with an industrial oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen analyzer, which can analyze the hydrogen content in solids.
They walked forward, and the crowd of onlookers followed behind them, walking forward as well.
This large group of people quickly arrived at booth number 114.
After explaining the purpose of the visit, the staff at booth 114 naturally took the metal block, processed it for a few minutes, and then put the processed sample into the oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen analyzer.
The equipment is started and testing begins.
Three minutes later, the test results appeared on the device's display screen.
【H: 99.999%】
This industrial oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen analyzer has a large display screen, and the numbers displayed on it can be clearly seen even when standing outside the booth.
Upon seeing this, the group of people were stunned!
This value means that metallic hydrogen has appeared in the world!
Elemental metallic hydrogen!
Ruined!
This world is doomed!