Can Heavier Liquid Float on Top of a Lighter One?

We report on a first observation of a floating spherical Hg (density 13 g/cm³) drop on top of a glycerin (density 1.26 g/cm³) drop, the latter is hemispherical and about four times larger in volume. This observation is clearly against nature's gravity law and has never been reported before. Here we present spectacular high resolution photos that clearly demonstrate this remarkable floating phenomenon. Using milli-Q water, the Hg drop would stay down adhered at the triple line. Instead, the coincidental use of tap water displays the same phenomenon. Increasing the volume of the supporting liquid to a certain value causes the Hg drop to sink. A 5-M NaCl aqueous solution is found enough to show the same floating phenomenon. This floating mercury as a phenomenon is puzzling. On this length scale it seems that surface tension and curvature dominate over gravity.