Selenium ?

[odinohi]

What do we know about selenium? I had some lead shot at the scrapyard and it had to an half percent selenium 2 1/2% antimony and the rest Lead. I did a little research but didn't come up with Much. Thanks for any and all info

[bangerjim]

It makes good rectifiers and diodes..............in the old days!!!!!!!

Selenium is a chemical element with symbol Se and atomic number 34. It is a nonmetal with properties that are intermediate between those of its periodic table column-adjacent chalcogen elements sulfur and tellurium. It rarely occurs in its elemental state in nature, or as pure ore compounds. Selenium (Greek σελήνη selene meaning "Moon") was discovered in 1817 by Jöns Jacob Berzelius, who noted the similarity of the new element to the previously known tellurium (named for the Earth).

Selenium is found impurely in metal sulfide ores, where it partially replaces the sulfur. Commercially, selenium is produced as a byproduct in the refining of these ores, most often during copper production. Minerals that are pure selenide or selenate compounds are known, but are rare. The chief commercial uses for selenium today are in glassmaking and in pigments. Selenium is a semiconductor and is used in photocells. Uses in electronics, once important, have been mostly supplanted by silicon semiconductor devices. Selenium continues to be used in a few types of DC power surge protectors, baby formula, and one type of fluorescent quantum dot.

Selenium salts are toxic in large amounts, but trace amounts are necessary for cellular function in many organisms, including all animals. Selenium is a component of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase (which indirectly reduce certain oxidized molecules in animals and some plants). It is also found in three deiodinase enzymes, which convert one thyroid hormone to another. Selenium requirements in plants differ by species, with some plants requiring relatively large amounts, and others apparently requiring none.



You basically have a version of Hardball there. Treat is as such......with the 2.5% Sb. Should not be harmful in that small concentration.

What's the alloy's melt point?

banger

.....edit.....

My bad...........I was thinking of Sn at 2%. Hardball has ~6% Sb 2% Sn. Anyway, you have "1/2 Hardball" to play with (minus the Sn which you can add)! At least you know exactly what is in there rather than so many on here that say: "Duh....have a bunch of lead...tell me what I have."

banger

[Cloudwraith]

Isn't that the stuff used to destroy the alien biologics in the movie Evolution? I think they got it from Head and Shoulders.... Wonder if it would be good for Zombies?

[madsenshooter]

Since mention was made of tellurium above, National Lead once made tellurium lead sheets. The tellurium, at less than .1%, gave the lead the ability to work harden and corrosion resistance. In copper refining, selenium precipitate tanks were lined with 6% antimonial lead.

[odinohi]

I didn't think it was harmful. I've melted it before but never had it tested. It is in form for battery cell connectors.(before production)

[leeggen]

Gee I'll take some so I don't have to give shots to my goats when they are short on sellinium.
Best I can tell you is animals need it in minute forms, to much will hurt them, also it is a mineral they get from the ground.
Hummmm maybe we need to get those animal activist to start worrying about sel. and maybe they will leave lead alone.
CD