Replacement Batterys

Branches

A
Branches

  • 5
  • 0
  • 44
St. Clair Beach Solitude

D
St. Clair Beach Solitude

  • 10
  • 3
  • 151
Reach for the sky

H
Reach for the sky

  • 4
  • 4
  • 187
Agawa Canyon

A
Agawa Canyon

  • 4
  • 3
  • 227

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,892
Messages
2,782,645
Members
99,741
Latest member
likes_life
Recent bookmarks
0

benjiboy

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
11,970
Location
U.K.
Format
35mm
The question I have occured to me today, when the PX27 mercury battery of my Minox 35 GT packed up, and I replaced it with two 1/3n lithium ones. If Mercury is dangerous, which I know it is, why is Lithium safer ? Isn't Lithium a heavy metal, and retained in the bones like Ceasium, and Strotium and just as bad for us ?
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,301
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
Lithium is the lightest metal, atomic number 3. It's the prime component in one of the major drugs that fights bipolar disorder, lithium carbonate (discovered after lithium saccharin was used in Diet 7-Up shortly after cyclamates were banned). It is chemically similar to sodium and potassium, not calcium, and thus is not retained in the bones.

All batteries should be disposed of as specified by your local solid waste authority, but lithium won't leach into groundwater and poison your great-grandkids if a few of the batteries go to a landfill, the way mercury, cadmium, and lead can.

BTW, even strontium and cesium are hazardous mainly in their radioactive forms -- they're so rare in the environment you'd never notice them in your bones unless they were continously dosing you with alpha particles, and the only significant source of the radioactive forms is nuclear fission.
 

colrehogan

Member
Joined
May 11, 2004
Messages
2,011
Location
St. Louis, M
Format
Large Format Pan
No, Lithium isn't a heavy metal. Its atomic number is 3 and its atomic weight is 6.9 g/mole. Some of it's nearest neighbors on the periodic table are sodium and magnesium. As to why Lithium is safer, I don't know.
 

joeyk49

Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2004
Messages
1,325
Location
New Jersey,
Format
Multi Format
I wish I paid more attention in HS Chemistry...geez, Donald! I'll bet you didn't look a lick of that up, either...

Humbled,

Joe
 
OP
OP

benjiboy

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
11,970
Location
U.K.
Format
35mm
Thanks guys,for your erudite and interesting replies to what was just an idle thought.
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,301
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
joeyk49 said:
I wish I paid more attention in HS Chemistry...geez, Donald! I'll bet you didn't look a lick of that up, either...

Sigh.

Caught. (hangs head)
 

titrisol

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
2,071
Location
UIO/ RDU / RTM/ POZ / GRU
Format
Multi Format
You can also open your PX27 and take the cells out, replace them by 4X LR42/385 silver oxide batteries and presto!
The 2X 1/3N is .5mm too long but if it worked in yours ..
The question I have occured to me today, when the PX27 mercury battery of my Minox 35 GT packed up, and I replaced it with two 1/3n lithium ones. If Mercury is dangerous, which I know it is, why is Lithium safer ? Isn't Lithium a heavy metal, and retained in the bones like Ceasium, and Strotium and just as bad for us ?
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom