Innovation Case Study #25: American Elements Contributes Materials to Getty Museum's "Art of Alchemy" Exhibition
#25: American Elements Contributes Materials to Getty Museum's "Art of Alchemy" Exhibition
The Challenge
In October 2016, the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, CA mounted an exhibition entitled "The Art of Alchemy." The goals of alchemy, considered the medieval precursor to modern chemistry, included purifying and transforming materials via manipulation of elements such as mercury and sulfur. For a demonstration video, the Getty wanted to use a liquid metal to represent the use of mercury by alchemists.
The Innovation
The Getty turned to American Elements to help find a material that could possibly mimic the appearance of mercury metal but be safer to use and handle.
The Result
American Elements provided the Getty with a sample of gallium metal, one of the only other metals that is liquid at room temperature.