Could a person walk on mercury?

Question

Could a person walk on mercury? I'm talking about the liquid, not the planet. Since it's so dense, shouldnt you only sink in a little bit so you'd be able to walk?

Answer 1

Mercury's density is 13.5 (a human body is around 1). This means that to achieve buoyancy, 1/13 or so of your body (by volume) would have to be under the level of the mercury surface. This probably means around knee deep on one leg.

Answer 2

no

we would be able too survive  

Answer 3

I guess if you could learn to balance, but it would be too dangerous (vapours and absorption through the skin).

Answer 4

if the mercury was cold enough it would freeze and you could walk on it.

Answer 5

It would not really be walking, because inherent in walking is pushing off with the back foot.  You cannot push off against a liquid unless it is extremely viscous.  It would be more of a very strange type of swimming.