{"title":"Cubes","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"aluminum-mirror-polished-cube","title":"Aluminum Mirror Polished Cube","description":"\u003cp\u003eAluminum is a metal that polishes to a highly reflective surface very easily and, considering how cheap it is, should make this one of the most affordable offerings on this page. But it isn’t. The reason is that aluminum is also quite soft and requires great care when grinding and polishing to prevent damage. Unfortunately, it is only very late in the process, after the lapping machine has completed its cycle, that the individual cubes can be examined for damage. The smallest of variables, if not simply bad luck, is enough to bump the cube enough that a tiny error - one that would go unnoticed in the regular seven dollar cubes - sticks out to mar an otherwise perfect specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe’re happy to offer them in 10mm as well as 1- and 2-inch sizes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm mirror polished","offer_id":47746593849509,"sku":"Al10mm_mp","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm mirror polished","offer_id":47806065803429,"sku":"Al25.4mm_mp","price":52.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm mirror polished","offer_id":47806065836197,"sku":"Al50mm_mp","price":99.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Aluminum_285_29_7df2f5e8-9894-403d-bdbc-3246a0cb5e12.webp?v=1778165666"},{"product_id":"bismuth-mirror-cube","title":"Bismuth Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eBismuth is a tricky metal to polish to the point you can see your face in it. Although it is pretty soft, which aids in the process, it is also quite brittle. Where lapping machines can be dialed in to “set and forget” with bismuth one must go through additional steps of progressively finer grits to avoid the abrasives from simply ripping out material and spoiling the surface being ground. It is largely the extra labor, again, that accounts for the relatively high cost of these cubes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820939133093,"sku":"Bi10mm_mp","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820939165861,"sku":"Bi25.4mm_mp","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820939198629,"sku":"Bi50mm_mp","price":375.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Bismuth_285_29_400db886-a4d3-409e-9df6-2c3c310695f7.webp?v=1778165667"},{"product_id":"cadmium-mirror-cube","title":"Cadmium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIf tin and lead had a baby they’d have named it cadmium. It has the former’s heft and the latter’s softness. Like lead it is also dangerous to health if ingested and becomes a serious waterway pollutant if allowed to degrade in the environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eBut a big solid piece of cadmium is safe to handle (not that a wash with soap and water afterwards would be a bad idea). It takes on a beautiful chrome-like polish but, again, is somewhat fragile given its softness. For this reason you’ll want to protect your investment by keeping it away from those afflicted with butter fingers!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820939362469,"sku":"Cd10mm_mp","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820939395237,"sku":"Cd25.4mm_mp","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820939428005,"sku":"Cd50mm_mp","price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Cadmium_283_29_dc0fc894-f5d9-4d72-b426-b6f44c5344c1.webp?v=1778165668"},{"product_id":"carbon-satin-cube","title":"Carbon Satin Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis, possibly the cheapest of all elements, turns out to be among the most beautiful when highly polished. Industrially supplied carbon (purified coal basically) is a relatively porous and low density material that is used in the production of high grades of steel. Even at the highest purity of 99.99% the stuff is only a couple bucks per kilogram. Optionally, after applying a lot of different steps to compact, shape, cut and polish it you get to the pricier yet still pretty cheap cubes we offer. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eApplying further polishing, unfortunately, does not yield a mirror cube. It simply leaves the dull dark gray cubes feeling smoother to the touch. In our quest to flesh out a mirror variant of each of our normally polished cubes we eventually overcame this problem by reformulating the starting material into a denser version with fewer pores and switching to a manual polishing stage rather than let the machine do it. Although the extra steps and manual labor ended up adding to the base price the jump was suprisingly modest. The premium look alone is worth the extra cost!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm satin polish","offer_id":47746594242725,"sku":"C10mm_satin","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm satin polish","offer_id":47806066557093,"sku":"C25.4m_satin","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm satin polish","offer_id":47806066589861,"sku":"C50mm_satin","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Carbon_283_29.webp?v=1778165669"},{"product_id":"chromium-mirror-cube","title":"Chromium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eAnd now chromium. Perhaps the most deserving cube to get the upgraded polishing treatment as \"chrome\" is basically synonymous with reflective metal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThese guys were made using the same process as the more matte-looking surfaced chromium cubes but after going through the customary grind polishing stage they were sent to a flat lapping machine to bring out the extra shine. And with each the result is a little gem that will bring a smile whenever you hold it!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820939788453,"sku":"Cr10mm_mp","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820939821221,"sku":"Cr25.4mm_mp","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820939853989,"sku":"Cr50mm_mp","price":423.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Chromium_284_29.webp?v=1778165670"},{"product_id":"cobalt-mirror-cube","title":"Cobalt Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese beauties are a pleasure to hold in hand. Shame the finger prints though as you’ll be viciously buffing them out after handling. Perfect in every way, these cubes of pure cobalt metal are true gems of engineering!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820940017829,"sku":"Co10mm_mp","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820940050597,"sku":"Co25.4mm_mp","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820940083365,"sku":"Co50mm_mp","price":325.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Cobalt_283_29_d6f9095c-153c-47e2-8ffb-bf496ab27c07.webp?v=1778165671"},{"product_id":"copper-mirror-cube","title":"Copper Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eA six-sided mirror made out of solid copper has been a dream long in coming. It is an exceptionally difficult project primarily because copper tarnishes easily on top of being fairly soft. It is frustratingly easy during manufacture to ruin an edge and the smallest mistake during polishing results in unsightly stains.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe acquired a highly refined copper and laboriously buffed it to a satiny sheen. We then sawed it into sections using a special low speed saw to preserve the critical edges and finally buffed the two ends to match the satin finish. The cubes that had made it to this stage were then given the final polishing that achieved the fully reflective mirrors. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIf you're considering buying one of these cubes it is highly recommended that you do not touch them with your bare fingers unless you first wash your hands with an industrial soap that gets every last trace of oil. Even still it's preferable to handle them with gloves and stored in an airtight container to avoid discoloration from oxides. If it gets dirty it can be wiped down with a cotton pad and some acetone or rubbing alcohol.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47746594963621,"sku":"Cu10mm_mp","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47806066786469,"sku":"Cu25.4mm_mp","price":57.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47806066819237,"sku":"Cu50mm_mp","price":165.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47806066852005,"sku":"Cu100mm_mp","price":575.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Copper_282_29_8f6a52d8-79db-4619-bf15-251958cfd2aa.webp?v=1778165672"},{"product_id":"dysprosium-mirror-cube","title":"Dysprosium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAlong with neodymium, there has been steady growth in the demand for dysprosium as an important component of specialty magnets. These find their way into all sorts of consumer goods from smartphones to electric cars. With production sources pretty much all spoken for and sourced among just a few refineries in China there’s little expectation that the price will go anywhere but up - and it’s already pricey as is.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eMaking it even costlier, of course, is the mirror polishing treatment which takes several days of continuous grinding in a lapping machine. The result, besides the sticker shock that is, is a six-sided mirror made from this exotic metal. And they are absolutely beautiful!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820940345509,"sku":"Dy10mm_mp","price":69.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820940378277,"sku":"Dy25.4mm_mp","price":385.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Dysprosium_282_29_057d6b9a-92bb-432b-89b3-572c1e655ff2.webp?v=1778165673"},{"product_id":"erbium-mirror-cube","title":"Erbium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eDrab and colorless as iron, erbium shares little else with its ferrous cousin. It is expensive and difficult to isolate from its ores and, unlike most other metals, nearly all of it is mined and process only by a single country: China. Its ability to provide a unique tint of a very narrow band in the visible spectrum when added to glass has found demand for this metal in the making of exotic lasers and optical fibers. This latter being a key component of the explosion in demand for data pipelines has put a good strain on the availability of this metal. It certainly should make Chinese monopolies happy (and the buyers equally nervous).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese cubes were painstakingly polished over the course of many days to yield impressively reflective surfaces and will make for a peerless addition to anyone’s element collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820940509349,"sku":"Er10mm_mp","price":76.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820940542117,"sku":"Er25.4mm_mp","price":245.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Erbium_282_29_cdee085e-4408-4df2-a8b6-ee2abbea2d55.webp?v=1778165674"},{"product_id":"gadolinium-mirror-cube","title":"Gadolinium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis obscure rare earth metal polishes well AND keeps its luster in open air so long as you don’t get it wet (in which case it will leave a hazy stain). Placed next to a gray color reference, gadolinium appears to have a very slight yellow color.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eGadolinium is also the unlikely focus of a controversy within the medical world. It turns out that it’s especially effective in MRI scans. As the acronym hints at, MRIs do their magic by exploiting small differences in magnetic fields within the body. These differences can be mapped and then formed into an image which can then be used in diagnosing many kinds of diseases. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eGadolinium’s role in these machines functions as a contrast enhancer to make those images clearer. While the iron in blood is magnetic it’s literally everywhere in the body so it’s no use for this task. What’s needed is a material that is magnetic but only just enough of it, like a fine dusting, to reveal hidden outlines. Gadolinium, which is slightly magnetic, is an exotic material that has no natural reason to accumulate in tissues. When the patient drinks a mix containing a small quantity of gadolinium these particles disperse via the bloodstream and their unique signature can be picked up by the scanner delineating more clearly the boundaries of organs and whatever other tissues are being examined.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe controversy stems from what-if questions arising out of potential litigation. Being a substance normally alien to the human body - and even though apparently harmless in the small quantities used - trace amounts of Gd may continue lingering in the body long after the MRI scan served its purpose…. and potentially be used in litigation should the patient sprout a condition whose origins can’t be explained otherwise. Fear of malpractice lawsuits is therefore putting pressure on engineering workarounds to phase out the use of this metal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eBut don’t feel too bad for the underdog. The demand for gadolinium in the medical industry is truly a drop in the bucket compared to its much larger market in the electronics and auto industries. Just don’t forget to take your gadolinium cube out of your pockets when you show up for your next MRI ;-)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820940771493,"sku":"Gd10mm_mp","price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820940804261,"sku":"Gd25.4mm_mp","price":180.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Gadolinium_283_29_d944d0a7-5f7d-48c6-b3cf-c3d2cb6e310b.webp?v=1778165676"},{"product_id":"hafnium-mirror-cube","title":"Hafnium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis unfortunate metal is evidently doomed to perennial obscurity. Extremely dense, costly, rare and supremely difficult to purify are all nails in this coffin. Hafnium is used, in small amounts, to make specialty alloys as well as in the nuclear industry but demand is relatively low as managers in these projects will always try to find alternatives to keep costs down.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eNow, turning to fans of the periodic table, hafnium’s obscurity is precisely what makes it attractive to collectors. Our normally polished hafnium cubes are (not surprisingly) fairly pricey items in their own right. Adding mirror polishing boosts the price up even farther as it takes several days (yes, days) of continuous polishing to achieve a reflective surface. The result though is a perfectly made little jewel that brings immediate tactile and visual satisfaction to its owner!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820941328549,"sku":"Hf10mm_mp","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820941361317,"sku":"Hf25.4mm_mp","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/HafniumMP_15aa59bb-8a79-461f-9d0d-3e2e43e48653.webp?v=1778165678"},{"product_id":"holmium-mirror-cube","title":"Holmium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis little-known metal gets the royal treatment. As far as anyone can tell these two inch-sized cubes are the very first objects made of pure holmium metal that have been polished to be as reflective as a mirror. Perhaps some anonymous tech at one point took the effort to do it for some specialized project but if so there’s no photographic evidence of it. So we’re comfortable saying it’s the first time it’s been available commercially. Not cheap, true, but special things tend to be pricey!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820941492389,"sku":"Ho10mm_mp","price":71.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820941525157,"sku":"Ho25.4mm_mp","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Holmium_282_29.webp?v=1778165678"},{"product_id":"iron-mirror-cube","title":"Iron Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAs mentioned previously, iron is not a metal one often comes across in ultra-pure grades. While it is the cheapest of the structural metals it oxidizes too easily and is fairly brittle. The addition of various other metals makes it much better suited for the tasks of being turned into bridges and cars but at that point it's no longer pure iron but rather \u003cem\u003esteel\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eOur supplier has provided us with prototypes of machine-made cubes that have additionally been polished to the degree you'd expect of chrome plating. Being however pure iron does mean that the elements can easily take their toll on this expensive keepsake. Iron's worst enemy is humidity, especially if it's the sort that comes off nearby seawater as it quickly creates a chemical reaction that results in rust. For this reason you will want to make sure that wherever you put this beautiful collectible it's somewhere dry!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820941918373,"sku":"Fe10mm_mp","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820941951141,"sku":"Fe25.4mm_mp","price":28.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820941983909,"sku":"Fe50mm_mp","price":160.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Iron_285_29_575557dd-601a-4089-b7bf-652daee25abc.webp?v=1778165679"},{"product_id":"lutetium-mirror-cube","title":"Lutetium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eLutetium is the heavy slugger of the lanthanide series. Hard, rare and about as dense as lead, this obscure metal has very few commercial uses primarily due to the high cost of production.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWe’ve taken our pricey Lu centimeter cubes and given them the royal treatment to bring out the shine like nobody’s business. And now it’s even costlier, true, but in the extremely unlikely event that someone within earshot were to brag about their piece of pure lutetium you would win the contest in a most dramatic way :-D\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820942344357,"sku":"Lu10mm_mp","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820942377125,"sku":"Lu25.4mm_mp","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Lutetium_283_29.webp?v=1778165680"},{"product_id":"molybdenum-mirror-cube","title":"Molybdenum Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eMolybdenum is an industrial metal which pretty much never gets any special attention. But this all changes with these lavishly polished cubes of perfect centimeter dimensions. They cost about five times as much as the regular cubes but are, arguably, ten times prettier!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820942999717,"sku":"Mo10mm_mp","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820943032485,"sku":"Mo25.4mm_mp","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820943065253,"sku":"Mo50mm_mp","price":260.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Molybdenum_285_29.webp?v=1778165681"},{"product_id":"magnesium-mirror-cube","title":"Magnesium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp\u003eMagnesium’s softness makes it easy to polish to a very high degree but this softness is also its Achille’s heel. If the lapping machine is not precisely set or the technicians decide to take a brief peek at their social media feeds - poof - the cube is ruined. The trouble doesn’t end there, unfortunately. Unlike its better known alloy type, pure magnesium also happens to be a very delicate metal with simple moisture being its primary enemy. If the cubes are left in a humid environment the water vapor dulls those beautifully polished surfaces with an irreversible, milky type of tarnish. To prevent this from happening avoid touching them with sweaty fingers and leave them in their protective cubes for long term storage.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820942540965,"sku":"Mg10mm_mp","price":33.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820942573733,"sku":"Mg25.4mm_mp","price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820942606501,"sku":"Mg50mm_mp","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_2502.webp?v=1778165682"},{"product_id":"nickel-mirror-cube","title":"Nickel Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWhile superficially \"gray\" nickel is actually a metal that has a very elegant light brown tone that becomes obvious when placed side by side a grayer metal like iron. Because it is hard it is easily polished. Easy, however, in terms of the mechanics of polishing. All you need to do is polish it with progressively finer grit. A process that takes hours of tedious, manual work. But after all that toil you are rewarded with a blindingly reflective jewel that will inevitable draw the attention of anyone who happens to look at it. That we can absolutely guarantee! \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820943294629,"sku":"Ni10mm_mp","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820943327397,"sku":"Ni25.4mm_mp","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820943360165,"sku":"Ni50mm_mp","price":270.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Nickel_284_29_7b4b53fb-a5a8-43b1-b576-ec8e5e4568de.webp?v=1778165683"},{"product_id":"niobium-mirror-cube","title":"Niobium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eNiobium sports all the colors of the rainbow if an oxide layer forms. But for this to happen it has to be almost incomprehensibly thin: on the order of a few nanometers. A nanometer or two is all it takes to change the color but too deep and the whole thing just turns an ugly black. Luckily, the process is easily controlled using electricity and an industry has popped up around niobium to give the world colorful metal jewelry (along with titanium which has similar properties).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWe can also make niobium beautiful by simply polishing the bejeezus out of it until it resembles chrome plating!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820943491237,"sku":"Nb10mm_mp","price":37.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820943524005,"sku":"Nb25.4mm_mp","price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror, 6 week ETA)","offer_id":47820943556773,"sku":"Nb50mm_mp","price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Niobium_mirror_cube_72576fee-f2e1-44b7-872d-d67dcf1d8c87.webp?v=1778165684"},{"product_id":"samarium-mirror-cube","title":"Samarium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTo prevent this sensitive rare earth metal from turning opaque each centimeter cube is placed inside a small glass ampule containing pure argon gas. When highly polished, samarium attains a gorgeous sepia tone similar to nickel.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm cube in 18x40mm flat bottom ampule","offer_id":47820943687845,"sku":"Sm10mm_mp","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Samarium_282_29.webp?v=1778165685"},{"product_id":"scandium-mirror-cube","title":"Scandium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eBased on cost alone scandium could compete as a precious metal, easily besting silver and at times rivaling ruthenium and even platinum. While not terribly rare, scandium’s mining problem is that it’s never concentrated in deposits and ore veins the way other metals are and is, instead, recovered as mere impurities from the refining of other ores. The amount is truly puny. The monthly worldwide production of scandium has never been higher than a single ton or so - over a hundred times less than gold!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eScandium is a beautiful brassy hue. Combining the three key properties of high strength, lightness and resistance to oxidation, scandium would make an ideal building material if it wasn’t so expensive. Our first batch of these highly polished cubes broke another record in that they immediately sold out - \u003cem\u003eto our own staff!\u003c\/em\u003e That had never happened before and don’t expect it will again. Still in limited quantities, here’s your chance to score a true metal jewel!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820943818917,"sku":"Sc10mm_mp","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820943851685,"sku":"Sc25.4mm_mp","price":990.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Scandium_282_29_9d0de042-71ad-4af6-b79a-30755546d7bf.webp?v=1778165686"},{"product_id":"silver-mirror-cube","title":"Silver Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIf you can afford to splurge on only one mirror polished cube these silver ones would be an ideal choice. Costing much more than the regular ones, and waaaay more than their modest weight would be as bullion, the expense is justified in the extraordinary level of care and difficulty in getting a six-sided mirror to laser sharp edges. Each one is a masterpiece of engineering and we guarantee your total delight!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820944244901,"sku":"Ag10mm_mp","price":51.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820944277669,"sku":"Ag25.4mm_mp","price":390.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820944310437,"sku":"Ag50mm_mp","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Silver_283_29.webp?v=1778165688"},{"product_id":"tantalum-mirror-cube","title":"Tantalum Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe word tantalum is creeping into the news with greater frequency due to the metal’s importance as a key ingredient in electronics…. and the fact that the majority of it is mined in areas of Africa with little government oversight. This unfortunately associates  it with the same problems as diamonds and other “conflict resources” the profits of which often end up in the pockets of warlords.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese gorgeously made cubes come from China. At over 16 grams each you’ll appreciate the heft of one of the universe’s toughest and densest metal. Lovingly polished to a mirror on each of its six sides you’ll also appreciate its classy, dark reflections that play magic with any light that shines upon it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820944507045,"sku":"Ta10mm_mp","price":56.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820944539813,"sku":"Ta25.4mm_mp","price":410.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820944572581,"sku":"Ta50mm_mp","price":1429.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Ta.webp?v=1778165689"},{"product_id":"terbium-mirror-cube","title":"Terbium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eFew people outside of specialty occupations in chemistry and the electronics industry are familiar with terbium. Nevertheless, in recent years demand for the metal has grown steadily. Coupled with the high cost of preparing the metal, and its natural rarity, have pushed the price per kilogram well into the four digits. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eJust as metals typically expand and contract with temperature variations, terbium has the strange ability to do this also with magnetic fields. While the effect is slight, in the presence of a magnet any given volume of the metal will change. This variation can be exploited in various ways starting with, of course, sensors that can detect fluctuations in magnetic fields.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eOur own, (unsophisticated) tests have failed to change the volume of one of these cubes to the point that it can be measured with a caliper.  For that, however, we’re actually thankful since for all we know if it did we’d have problems with terbium cubes bursting our plastic holders every time they came close to a magnet! We give each of these beautifully finished cubes the white glove treatment - and we’re sure you will too :-)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820944834725,"sku":"Tb10mm_mp","price":145.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820944867493,"sku":"Tb25.4mm_mp","price":900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Terbium_285_29_86bf03c9-2a73-47b8-8498-97c56dc2c05e.webp?v=1778165691"},{"product_id":"thulium-mirror-cube","title":"Thulium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003ePricey and exotic sounding, thulium’s 15 minutes of fame may never come. Without any highly desirable chemical traits and also its extreme difficulty in extraction keep this one firmly in the list of most obscure entries in the periodic table.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eGiven the high cost of production and that it belongs in the “rare earth element” family one might be excused for thinking that thulium is extremely rare in nature. It isn’t. The cost to make thulium metal is high primarily due to it being so similar to the other rare earths (which are invariably always found mixed with) that it takes complex and lengthy processes to isolate. That and, again, that there aren’t many buyers looking for it in the first place.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eNow that Luciteria has been acquiring thulium by the kilogram it may well be the case that this newfound demand channel is sufficient to affect the price and availability of this sleepy commodity. And that would be great news as far as we’re concerned!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWithin our premium line of density cubes, thulium was a late addition given some unique metallurgical characteristics that made the normal polishing techniques inadequate to achieve a mirror-like finish. It turns out that the ultrapure metal tends to have a rather coarse metal grain which “catches” in the grit of the polishing machine resulting in chips and gouges that ruin the job. Unfortunately, our supplier did not share technical details on how this was overcome but, at least, the problem was eventually solved though - of course - not without significant costs to research the solution…. all reflected in the rather steep price of ownership!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820944998565,"sku":"Tm10mm_mp","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945031333,"sku":"Tm25.4mm_mp","price":1150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Thulium_283_29_fd4ab0e4-e92f-4fe3-ae27-79f3842bffe4.webp?v=1778165692"},{"product_id":"titanium-mirror-cube","title":"Titanium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTitanium, synonymous with all things hi-tech and luxury tier, is naturally strong as steel but only half the weight. Although few objects that boast of being made of titanium show off how beautiful the metal is in this offering we do just that. Made of the same 99.99% pure grade of titanium as the regular titanium cubes we sell, these have had a lot of extra polishing to bring out the shine in a big way!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945424549,"sku":"Ti10mm_mp","price":27.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945457317,"sku":"Ti25.4mm_mp","price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945490085,"sku":"Ti50mm_mp","price":270.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Titanium_285_29.webp?v=1778165692"},{"product_id":"tungsten-mirror-cube","title":"Tungsten Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTungsten is the most popular metal to be turned into cubes. This is in large part because its high density makes them irresistible as playthings. Now we turn up the desirability factor to ten on the dial with these extremely reflective versions. If you’re in the market for a tungsten cube as desktop bling then these are unquestionably the nicest ones you can get your hands on!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e50mm (and larger) cubes can be specially ordered but note they take 3-4 months to deliver from time of placing the order.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945653925,"sku":"W10mm_mp","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945686693,"sku":"W25.4mm_mp","price":140.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945719461,"sku":"W50mm_mp","price":1488.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Tungsten_285_29_ef84bd40-7cd8-4eec-af05-942f3696200c.webp?v=1778165693"},{"product_id":"vanadium-mirror-cube","title":"Vanadium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eVanadium is an exotic metal that plays a minor role in the steel making industry. It would play a much larger role if it wasn't so rare and expensive because it has many desirable properties.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese little 1cm cubes have been painstakingly polished to reveal a supremely reflective surface on all six sides and begs comparison to other similar cubes. It is one of the few metals that really is neutral, medium gray!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945883301,"sku":"V10mm_mp","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945916069,"sku":"V25.4mm_mp","price":155.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Vanadium_96dfe4b7-ec92-49dc-bbdc-ccbc7cc1b733.webp?v=1778165695"},{"product_id":"ytterbium-mirror-cube","title":"Ytterbium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis beautiful metal is practically unknown except for those who want to memorize the hundred-plus roster making up the periodic table. Of a light golden, almost brassy color, ytterbium is almost impossible to shape via machining into anything useful (assuming someone wanted to for some reason) because, like wood, it has a grainy texture which tends to “catch” onto tools and break away leaving a pitted surface. It is, for this reason, that it is nearly impossible to polish. Only with the greatest care, using fastidiously small increments in grit size and taking it reeeeeal slow can the luster be coaxed. Because of this it takes many days to make a single one of these cubes and, to be honest, the surface can only achieve a satin rather than true mirror finish. While technically possible, it would probably costs hundreds of dollars using the current tech to make a single gem-like cubed centimeter of ytterbium would surely cost hundreds of dollars. As it is, the satin finish is absolutely gorgeous and really brings out the character of this rare earth!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946210981,"sku":"Yb10mm_mp","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946243749,"sku":"Yb25.4mm_mp","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (~60 days to deliver)","offer_id":47820946276517,"sku":"Yb50mm_mp","price":1000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Ytterbium_282_29.webp?v=1778165696"},{"product_id":"yttrium-mirror-cube","title":"Yttrium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese three little cubes are the first prototypes of yttrium passing the mirror polishing test - and it is almost certainly the first instance anyone has ever taken the trouble to polish this metal. Although not a lanthanide, yttrium is usually regarded as a rare earth metal because its properties fall right in line with the rest of the REEs and is also found mixed with those. It is, from the point of view of metallurgy, pretty much useless. It produces prodigious amounts of sparks when friction is applied turning it into a flammable hazard when machining. It is too rare and expensive to be used in its pure elemental form anyway.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe primary challenge in polishing yttrium to a very reflective luster is therefore to control speed of the polishing wheel in such a way that the cube never becomes heated. It is also susceptible, like most other rare earth metals, to rapid oxidation when moist so needs special dry grit abrasives. This high degree of pain-in-the-assness is responsible for the high cost.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946407589,"sku":"Y10mm_mp","price":52.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946440357,"sku":"Y25.4mm_mp","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946473125,"sku":"Y50mm_mp","price":550.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Yttrium_282_29.webp?v=1778165697"},{"product_id":"zinc-mirror-cube","title":"Zinc Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eZinc is a metal that easily polishes but it’s also one that is rather environmentally fragile (oxidizes easily) and is also delicate to work with. This increases its difficulty in machining to this degree and is reflected in the price. On the other hand the incredibly smooth surfaces make it easy to appreciate its clearly bluegreen hue compared to other, grayer metals when side by side.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWe suggest handling with gloves or at least quickly wiping down prints so as to avoid discoloration.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946636965,"sku":"Zn10mm_mp","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946669733,"sku":"Zn25.4mm_mp","price":58.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946702501,"sku":"Zn50mm_mp","price":198.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Zinc_286_29.webp?v=1778165699"},{"product_id":"zirconium-mirror-cube","title":"Zirconium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAs normally polished, pure zirconium metal is a beautiful metal with a very light brownish tinge similar to titanium. The metal’s character truly shines (heh, pun) when polished to a mirror finish. This will be one you reach for when you want to show off a beautifully made cube!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946866341,"sku":"Zr10mm_mp","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946899109,"sku":"Zr25.4mm_mp","price":69.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820946931877,"sku":"Zr50mm_mp","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Zirconium_284_29.webp?v=1778165700"},{"product_id":"tin-mirror-cube","title":"Tin Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTin is a metal that combines several desirable characteristics. It is cheap, non-toxic and resists corrosion. It has, unfortunately, the fatal flaw of being very soft which precludes it from being used in any type of structural application except as a coating.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIts softness makes it easy to polish into a mirror (in fact, this being one of its modern day uses) even though this softness also means that it can dent and scratch easily. You can buff out a hairline scratch but it’ll take great care to prevent dulling an edge. A little extra TLC should keep your six-sided mirror beautiful indefinitely.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945195173,"sku":"Sn10mm_mp","price":36.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945227941,"sku":"Sn25.4mm_mp","price":99.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50mm (mirror polished)","offer_id":47820945260709,"sku":"Sn50mm_mp","price":209.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Tin_283_29_6f78546f-002d-4d62-bba2-ec8ef2784ab4.webp?v=1778165701"},{"product_id":"mercury-metal-cube","title":"Mercury Metal \"Cube\"","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eDepending on just how nitpicky you want to be, mercury is arguably the only metal that is a liquid at room temperature and unlike contenders cesium and gallium it most certainly is the only metal that stays liquid even in the type of room whose heating fails in the middle of a Minnesota winter. In fact, mercury’s most notable role through the last three centuries has been its use in thermometers as it reliably marks the hottest summer peaks and all but the coldest of polar winters. In this last use it, of course, has over the past couple of decades all but become as commonplace as phone booths for reasons of safety (at least insofar as public perceptions are concerned).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eBut therein lies the problem. Unless you happen to live in Siberia or Alaska the chances of it being cold enough for mercury to freeze (at around 38° below) your cube collection is never going to be complete. Worry ye not! Thanks to the amazing properties of nature we can fake our way through this little inconvenience by injecting the metal into a plastic container and sticking a cheap sticker on top and whoaa, heyyy, we’ve a mercury cube now! While we were initially skeptic they easily exceeded expectations as they look and feel great in hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003ePs. disclaimer time: these cubes are, in case it needs to be spelled out, meant as scientific collectibles. The lids are glued shut to prevent leakage or noxious vapors from escaping but will probably not survive a fall onto a concrete floor nor present much of a challenge to a kid with a hammer. The  mercury within poses no harm to you or anyone else \u003cstrong\u003eso long as it stays inside the box\u003c\/strong\u003e. Breaking it out on purpose to play with the same way bored kids used to do with those old thermometers back in the 1970’s is a really really \u003cem\u003ereally \u003c\/em\u003ebad idea. Cut ‘em a little slack… they didn’t have Xbox or TikTok, you know? So unless you’re 100% confident that you can keep this one away from the more buttered-fingered or mischievous members of your family then we seriously urge you to be okay with not filling this hole in your set.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eNew as of May 2024: we are discontinuing the old glued boxes filled with mercury and switching over to sealed glass. More expensive but a whole lot more elegant!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm sealed glass cube with 1g","offer_id":47820942803109,"sku":"Hg10mm_sg","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"10mm Mercury Cube","offer_id":47810164129957,"sku":"Hg10mm","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Mercury10mm_62272d4c-9171-4931-96c9-abaa917b216e.webp?v=1778165702"},{"product_id":"fluorine-cube","title":"Fluorine Cube 75%","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWait, fluorine’s a gas, right? Yes, and an impossible one to capture under ordinary conditions. This gas is likely the most immediately lethal of any natural element on the Periodic Table. You would sooner do laps in a swimming pool filled with mercury or sunbathe in plutonium’s glow than take a single whiff of fluorine. It is, in fact, so chemically reactive that it can happily eat through glass which is among the most inert of solid materials.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAnd that poses a problem for collectors looking to fill the ninth slot on their display case. What to put in there? Teflon, the miracle invention that lets you scrape off last week’s Mac’n’Cheese from the pan with with a flick of the wrist, is a compound that is 75% fluorine and 25% carbon. The two atoms lock into long chains so tenaciously that it becomes both a physical and chemical barrier. Those leftovers have nothing to cling onto so slide right off.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWhile this is clearly the poor man’s alternative, 75% is actually remarkably rich for a compound. It is purer, comparatively, than sodium in salt (at only 40%) or even the amount of iron in rust (66%). Fluorite, the typical stand-in for this element in collections, is actually less than 50% fluorine. This makes Teflon a very credible substitute; at least until such day that we can fashion exotic cube-shaped quartz traps to hold the pure gas. Best of all, it’s pretty cheap!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAn unforeseen hurdle in the manufacture of these cubes was the challenge of engraving them. Usually a simple process, charring via laser produces a nice contrast to make the cubes legible. The problem, of course, is that nothing sticks to this stuff! The lettering would slide off at the merest touch. The lab overcame this problem with some secret sauce but, as you can see from the photos, success in this endeavor has only been partial… arguably a charming conversation topic in its own right :-)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm Teflon Cube","offer_id":47811157524645,"sku":"F10mm","price":8.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm Teflon Cube","offer_id":47811157688485,"sku":"F25.4mm","price":16.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm Teflon Cube","offer_id":47828898873509,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_2339.webp?v=1777277681"},{"product_id":"gas-cubes","title":"Gas cubes 10mm","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhoaa! Gas cubes, really? Yep. One of the most asked-for emails that have been cluttering the Luciteria inbox has been a variant of “Can you guys make like a box with sealed gas?” And now it’s finally a reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile we’ve had gas ampules on offer for years these are a poor choice for the collectors who are putting together a set of pure elements in cubic centimeter format. The cheap and easy way often suggested - Hey! great idea why don’t you fill up one of your little plastic boxes with ____ gas? - is not really workable. Just as a helium balloon goes flat after a few hours your plastic box would soon be replaced with air and there goes your investment. Yes, you can glue the lid shut but these are very small, fast-moving atoms that will happily tunnel out of even impossibly small cracks and pores - right through the glue, in fact.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe knew the only effective option had to be glass. But glass makers, the type that provide glassware for laboratories anyway, do not make convenient little 10mm glass boxes. Sure would be nice if they did but unless we were willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a custom size we had to improvise. And the result is…. actually pretty nice! We’re not actually sure how it was done but we suspect the solution involves taking off-the-shelf borosilicate glass test tubes which are heated to the point of being pliable then quickly stuffed into a square hole. The cube is then back-filled with the target gas exactly the same way as the ampules.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result isn’t perfect as this un-retouched photo and linked video clip shows: the glass walls are not perfectly straight and the top has a nipple that is not flush with the other sides. But this is nitpicking. They’re quite attractive little pieces that fit perfectly in our 14mm case. The 2mm-thick glass walls provide strength to spare so that if they should accidentally fall there’s a good chance they won’t break. The killer of course is that these can be made to light up, each in its own signature color the same as with all the other ampules.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach glass cube comes with a sticker on the bottom to avoid confusion and all gases are 99.99% pure.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Argon","offer_id":47746599026853,"sku":"Ar10mm","price":16.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fluorine (30% F, 70% N)","offer_id":47806068883621,"sku":"F10mm_glass","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Helium","offer_id":47806068916389,"sku":"He10mm","price":16.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hydrogen","offer_id":47806068949157,"sku":"H10mm","price":19.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Krypton","offer_id":47806068981925,"sku":"Kr10mm","price":19.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Oxygen","offer_id":47806069014693,"sku":"O10mm","price":16.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Neon","offer_id":47806069047461,"sku":"Ne10mm","price":16.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Nitrogen","offer_id":47806069080229,"sku":"N10mm","price":20.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Xenon","offer_id":47806069112997,"sku":"Xe10mm","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Krypton 60mm sphere","offer_id":47806069145765,"sku":"Kr60mm","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_2337.webp?v=1778165704"},{"product_id":"potassium-metal-cube","title":"Potassium Metal Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFew elements are as finicky as potassium. Although familiar to everyone, most are unaware that it’s an actual metal and not just something vaguely mineral-sounding thing having to do with nutrition. It reacts violently with oxygen, guaranteeing that it can’t stay looking metallic for more than literally a few seconds in open air before turning into an earthy compound. On top of that, it also happens to be about as soft as butter. With those characteristics it’s little wonder that a “cube” of potassium is not a realistic project.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eAnd yet.. well… see for yourself. Here’s the real deal. A fully formed and oxide-free cube of potassium has made it from drawing board to real life product. The same knowhow used to produce the lithium and sodium cubes works here just as well with the only notable difference being that it is even more delicate. Greater concessions to small imperfections along the edges are to be expected as the minutest movement is sufficient to reshape it. Gone, too, is the blinding glint of the pure metal as evident when it is allowed to mold itself to the glass walls. Even with those caveats, without question, this beautiful bluish-purple cube is in every way a more desirable format compared to the first prototypes consisting of a glass cube into which formless potassium was injected.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eBe literally one of the very first - and the very few - in the world to have an actual object made out of this metal! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003ePlease be aware that due to buoyancy the engraved side of the 25.4mm cube may shift.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm sealed glass cube with 0.1g","offer_id":47820857245861,"sku":"K10mm_sg","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10mm cube in 15x60mm flat bottom ampule","offer_id":47820857278629,"sku":"K10mm","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm cube in glass dome (oil float)","offer_id":47820857311397,"sku":"K25.4mm","price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_4775_7c9a14a1-d169-4646-91c0-1ac7352a8a5c.webp?v=1778165711"},{"product_id":"chlorine-glass-cube","title":"Chlorine Glass Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eUnlike liquid solutions, very few gases have a tint to them - and those that do are poisonous. Chlorine’s pretty hue of yellow belies its stark incompatibility with all living organisms. Even in very dilute form it is known as that nasty pool air that stings your lungs and turns your eyes bloodshot. It is, along with white phosphorus, the only element that has been weaponized just for its innate toxicity - and its effects so horrid that adherents to the Geneva Protocols have banned their wartime use.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis little cube here contains the deadly cargo in its purest form possible but… it’s a paper tiger. Like a thumbnail-sized kraken or Freddy Krueger, it’s more cute than dangerous given its small size. If it were to break you will probably notice the smell but if your eyes well up with tears it will be because it’s so costly to replace.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Chlorine gas 10mm sealed glass cube","offer_id":47820854886565,"sku":"Cl10mm","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Chlorine10mm_a0ab5505-1089-4873-837a-41155c13d82e.webp?v=1778165712"},{"product_id":"lead-mirror-cube","title":"Lead Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe word “lead” is probably what one is most likely to think of when asked what the cheapest metal is. That’s inaccurate, as that crown goes to iron, whose price per ton is just $100 at the time of this writing while that of lead is over 20 times as much(!)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eStill, even at $2,000 a \u003cem\u003eton\u003c\/em\u003e, a small piece of lead could literally cost less than a penny. And unlike iron, which is used in steel which is in turn used to make many valuable objects, lead’s few uses in consumer products always tend to be relegated to the most menial class of goods including bullets, weights, toxic paint… the very opposite of glamorous. So no wonder the mental association with cheap.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eBut witness here this unloved member of the periodic table getting the deluxe treatment! Never before has lead been so lovingly polished and so fastidiously cut to a specific dimension. All in the name of achieving the ultimate showpiece; a decorative item meant to wow its owner and the few others who can appreciate the technical difficulty involved. Face it, we are terminally nerdy 😅\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe 10mm comes in a 15*60mm flat bottomed ampule while the 25.4mm is housed in a glass dome. This is both for the protection of the finish (lead dulls to a dark gray in open air) and to protect the edges and corners from damage.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm 15*60mm FB ampule","offer_id":47746599420069,"sku":"Pb10mm_mp","price":34.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm glass dome","offer_id":47820942213285,"sku":"Pb25.4mm_dome","price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Lead_mirror.webp?v=1778165716"},{"product_id":"indium-mirror-cube","title":"Indium Mirror Cube","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003ePolishing a soft metal to a high degree of reflectivity is easy. You just keep rubbing it over and over. So at first glance it might have seemed off how the easiest metals to polish would be the last ones to be offered in a mirror finish. There is a good reason for this though. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWhile shining up a piece of lead (or indium) is indeed very easy to do, doing so while maintaining a specific shape really complicates things. That softness is in a very literal sense the weakness that is conspiring against the form integrity of the object being polished. Try taking a normal cube and rubbing it against a piece of paper and you will see that while, yes, that side polishes up beautifully the mere pressure of hand holding it has caved in the sides and formed gummy burrs on the edges. Do that for all six sides and you’re left with a gorgeous little formless lump. The more you try to fix it the worse it gets. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThere were a number of potential solutions to this problem. One was to have a very precisely made mold that was itself polished to a mirror finish into which the target metal could be cast (soft metals also happen to have low melting points) but the costs involved in preparing that mold were very costly. Worse, it would have needed to be done in a partial vacuum to avoid air becoming trapped during casting which would also have increased costs further. So this route was shot down purely as a business decision. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAnother option would have been to take the normally completed cubes and have them hand polished in a contraption that held them securely while exposing only one side but informal tests were not promising. The added cost of the labor would have made the project unprofitable too anyway.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWe had all but given up when an extrusion process developed in the making of the recently introduced alkali metal cubes was just as effective with other soft metals too. We were happy to ride those coattails and can finally introduce indium and lead in the coveted mirror finish! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eBecause of the extreme softness of indium we have elected to have these cubes housed in glass and glued in place to avoid movement. Even the mere act of handling them is all that’s needed to permanently mar the finish :-(\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm mirror 15*60mm FB ampule","offer_id":47820941688997,"sku":"In10mm_mp","price":41.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25.4mm mirror cube in glass dome","offer_id":47820941721765,"sku":"In25.4mm_dome","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_5233.jpg?v=1778165718"},{"product_id":"molybdenum-metal-cube-99-95","title":"Molybdenum Metal Cube 99.95%","description":"\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eMolybdenum is an industrial metal that is usually used as an additive in steel. It is too rare and costly to play a significant role in pure form. As a powder it is toxic as it irritates skin and especially the lungs which could cause chemical pneumonia, a very serious condition. However, as a solid metal it is harmless and looks very similar to steel though considerably heavier.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis bright metal cube has satisfyingly sharp corners and is a true delight to hold. Keep it near your workspace and it'll put a smile on your face every time you reach for it!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWeight of each 10mm cube is 10 grams and for the 25.4mm approximately 163 grams.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Labeled 14mm box with ~1g","offer_id":47820942868645,"sku":"Mo10.1mm","price":4.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820942901413,"sku":"Mo10mm","price":8.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820942934181,"sku":"Mo25.4mm","price":67.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820942966949,"sku":"Mo50mm","price":420.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Molybdenum_284_29_b0f6d57f-13c9-4191-9435-65765ef6a4b4.webp?v=1778165579"},{"product_id":"tantalum-metal-cube-99-95","title":"Tantalum Metal Cube 99.95%","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTantalum is one of the most exotic metals that have everyday industrial applications. Your smartphone contains tiny capacitors that utilize it and though a negligible quantity per phone when multiplied by the hundreds of millions the demand becomes enormous. So valuable is this specialty metal that, sadly, its ores in Congo have become the focus of a ruinous war between rival gangs attempting to control its ownership. This war, the strong demand and the outright rarity of the metal make tantalum one of the most expensive industrial metals; gram per gram more expensive than silver!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e10mm cubes weigh 16.7±0.3g.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e25.4mm cubes weigh 274±1g.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Labeled 14mm box with ~0.5g","offer_id":47820944343205,"sku":"Ta10.1mm","price":4.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"10mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820944375973,"sku":"Ta10mm","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820944408741,"sku":"Ta25.4mm","price":552.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Tantalum_282_29_b04ad5de-eaee-4486-b720-fc22224e30dd.webp?v=1778165580"},{"product_id":"tungsten-metal-cube-99-95","title":"Tungsten Metal Cube 99.95%","description":"\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eTungsten takes the record for highest melting point of any metal and is also notable for being much heavier than lead (19 vs 13 grams per cubic centimeter). Stick it under the hottest torch you have laying around and this chunk of metal will giggle because it tickles. Torture it with acid and it'll yawn in boredom. Scratch it with another metal and it'll roll its eyes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThis truly beautiful cube was specially commissioned from a Chinese manufacturer that employs a hi-tech spark erosion process to give unbelievably tight tolerances and a stunning finish. If you've had any familiarity with tungsten chances are you'll know it to be a dark gray metal but with this machining process the metal is delightfully bright and reflective. And so hefty! Made from 99.95% pure tungsten each 10mm cube weighs 19.1 grams, the one inch cube 313±5g and the 50mm weighs a whopping 2300 grams (that's over five pounds!)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Labeled 14mm box with ~1g","offer_id":47820945522853,"sku":"W10.1mm","price":5.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"10mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820945555621,"sku":"W10mm","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820945588389,"sku":"W25.4mm","price":169.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820945621157,"sku":"W50mm","price":1150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Tungsten_284_29_feb18d03-5017-40cd-a718-c00e5942ead9.webp?v=1778165581"},{"product_id":"aluminum-metal-cube-99-9","title":"Aluminum Metal Cube 99.9%","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eTo really appreciate how special aluminum is - a metal typically appreciated only by streetside recyclers - you should hold it next to one of the heavier cubes of the same size like tungsten. Compared this way they feel almost immaterial, like you could toss it in the air and it would float!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eAluminum is the whitest of all the metals. Silver is more reflective but side by side silver appears, well, silvery where aluminum looks white, white, white. Of course, when highly polished those distinctions disappear - we're talking about appearance as normally encountered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003e10mm cube weight is 2.7±0.1g and 25.4mm is 44g\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Labeled 10mm plastic box with ~0.25g pellets","offer_id":47820938641573,"sku":"Al10.1mm","price":4.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820938674341,"sku":"Al10mm","price":9.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820938707109,"sku":"Al25.4mm","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820938739877,"sku":"Al50mm","price":61.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Aluminum_5a76bbd2-b2b9-48aa-b306-16941125241e.webp?v=1778165582"},{"product_id":"copper-metal-cube-99-95","title":"Copper Metal Cube 99.95%","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eCopper, nature's only red metal! A kitchen full of polished copper pots and pans is a sight to behold and so are these cubes that you can't resist picking up and playing with. But, unlike the case with your pots, cleaning these delicate cubes is inadvisable. If you're clumsy enough to get ketchup on it use a cotton ball, water and a little prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eSo yeah, it bears repeating: \u003cstrong\u003ecopper is delicate\u003c\/strong\u003e. Avoid touching it with your bare hands. The oils and acids will stain it permanently. Even leaving it out in open air will eventually.... have you seen the Statue of Liberty?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003e10mm cube weight is 8.9±0.5g.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003e25.4mm cube weight is 146±3g.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003e50mm cube weight is ~1,125g.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Labeled 10mm plastic box with ~1g beads","offer_id":47820940116133,"sku":"Cu10.1mm","price":4.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820940148901,"sku":"Cu10mm","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820940181669,"sku":"Cu25.4mm","price":27.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820940214437,"sku":"Cu50mm","price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Copper_aa887048-28ed-4cbd-bda7-97d254cddbc8.webp?v=1778165583"},{"product_id":"zinc-metal-cube-99-99","title":"Zinc Metal Cube 99.99%","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIt's a pity zinc is such an unloved metal. It's the metal of shanty towns and garbage cans. But when a very pure block of zinc is milled to a polished sheen it has a downright classy look with the slightest tinge of blue.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIt is a delicate luster so keep it lightly oiled or waxed as it otherwise tends to dull in air if left out for a long time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e10mm cube weight is 7.1±0.2g\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Labeled 14mm box with ~1g","offer_id":47820946505893,"sku":"Zn10.1mm","price":4.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820946538661,"sku":"Zn10mm","price":6.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820946571429,"sku":"Zn25.4mm","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820946604197,"sku":"Zn50mm","price":91.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Zinc_2915d70e-9c86-4754-a4e7-7d7c0784bee3.webp?v=1778165584"},{"product_id":"praseodymium-metal-cube-99-5","title":"Praseodymium Metal Cube 99.5%","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWhen it comes to pure metal cubes, praseodymium is a special case given its affinity to oxidation. Much like an iron nail left out in the open, Pr rusts too except it does so in an off-white powdery mess that left unchecked will turn the whole object into a puffy pile of PrO2. So protecting the surface with a sealant is a must if we are to enjoy our little cube of this exotic metal. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eOur praseodymium cubes will come in a glass ampule which guarantees the preservation of its metallic luster. Don’t let the glass break or they’ll turn pitch black like in first photo.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWeight of each 10mm cube is 6.75±0.05g\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm sealed glass cube with ~1g filings","offer_id":47820857475237,"sku":"Pr10mm_sg","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10mm cube in 18x40mm flat bottom ampule","offer_id":47820857508005,"sku":"Pr10mm","price":130.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Praseodymium_288_29.webp?v=1778527150"},{"product_id":"lanthanum-metal-cube-99-5","title":"Lanthanum Metal Cube 99.5%","description":"\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eLanthanum is the black sheep of the rare earth family. It is both the most abundant component of the rare earth ores as well as relatively useless. Nearly all of the demand for it being taken up by toy sparklers and lighter flints. That's because when you grind it the little hot bits that fly off self-ignite in air in a fiery death before they reach the ground. A market for the metal was found in early versions of electric cars that had Ni-Cad batteries, where lanthanum played a role as minor constituent, but Elon Musk et al have snubbed that old tech for lighter lithium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eLanthanum is also very susceptible to oxidation. Cut a piece in two to expose virgin metal and its luster will dull over the course of a few days until completely black. That thin coating of oxides is, unfortunately, insufficient to stop further degradation so the cubes must be kept stored under oil to stop the reaction from causing further damage. Except even in oil it will slowly continue to deteriorate unless the lanthanum and oil sit inside an airtight container. And by airtight we mean glass or metal as even plastic allows a limited passage of oxygen through.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eAs is the case with several other reactive metals on this page, we’ve handled the problem effectively by putting the cube inside an ampule with argon which is pretty much the only way you can hold on to this metal in a manner guaranteed to spare its delicate metallic luster while still being able to visually appreciate it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e10mm cube weight is 5.9±0.1g\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm sealed glass cube with ~1g filings","offer_id":47820855771301,"sku":"La10mm_sg","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10mm cube in mineral oil","offer_id":47820855804069,"sku":"La10mm_oil","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"10mm cube in 18x60mm flat bottom ampule","offer_id":47820855836837,"sku":"La10mm","price":119.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Lanthanum_285_29_e0cc1193-12b8-4818-8e08-1397989c68e5.webp?v=1778165586"},{"product_id":"gadolinium-metal-cube-99-9","title":"Gadolinium Metal Cube 99.9%","description":"\u003cp\u003eGadolinium is another one of the exotics known to chemistry majors as the lanthanides row and due to expense, difficulty in extraction and overall rarity it's remained little more than a lab curiosity. Our Chinese bulk suppliers have about as much affinity to this or any other rare earth metal as they do the steel drums they put them in. Perhaps if they saw them in these shiny perfectly straight-walled little cubes they'd regard them with a little more interest though, to be honest, the demographic slice that appreciates this sort of thing is, well... modest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWeight of each 10mm cube is 8g.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Labeled 10mm plastic box with ~0.5g pieces","offer_id":47820940673189,"sku":"Gd10.1mm","price":4.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"10mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820940705957,"sku":"Gd10mm","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820940738725,"sku":"Gd25.4mm","price":140.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Gadolinium_e2ed6425-953b-4603-942a-7ffe00d7e5ee.webp?v=1778165587"},{"product_id":"neodymium-metal-cube-99-5","title":"Neodymium Metal Cube 99.5%","description":"\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eNow meet neodymium of strong magnet fame. Much like any other metal pure neodymium is gray as gray gets. That's pure neodymium. When it comes into contact with air - BAM! - oxygen pairs up with the cube's outermost atoms to form a black oxide. You can get rid of the oxidation with a stiff brush perhaps but, inevitably, it starts to darken and darken and darken some more until pitch black…. and then it starts to disintegrate into an inelegant pile of powder. Sad emoticon :-( \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eBut despair ye not! We’ve built this glass cage around the fragile neodymium cubes to ensure oxygen can do it no harm. You’ll be able to appreciate the metal’s metallic luster for as long as you don’t drop the thing onto the floor.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"10mm sealed glass cube with ~1g filings","offer_id":47820856164517,"sku":"Nd10mm_sg","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10mm cube in 18x60mm flat bottom ampule","offer_id":47820856197285,"sku":"Nd10mm","price":130.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10mm cube in 18x34 flat bottom ampule","offer_id":47820856230053,"sku":"Nd10mm_small","price":113.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Neodymium_286_29_6bd51add-4a41-4081-8a13-117be6bd8ca9.webp?v=1778165588"},{"product_id":"hafnium-metal-cube-99-95","title":"Hafnium Metal Cube 99.95%","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eIf you were to divide the metals from the periodic table into two groups, those that are common and those that are rare, not only would hafnium be in the latter but if you were to divide them again you'd still find it on the rarer side of those two. Compound this natural rarity with low commercial demand and it's not difficult to see why hafnium is so expensive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eIn nature hafnium is always found mixed up with zirconium and the two are nearly inseparable. However, their ratios are far from 50-50. In zirconium-rich sands the hafnium yield is on average only 2%. The two elements are so similar chemically that most commercial refineries don't even bother to extract out the hafnium. This means that unlike pretty much every other industrial metal the average zirconium part is a natural alloy containing between 1-3.5% hafnium!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eFortunately, zirconium was found to be a desirable material in the construction of fuel rods for the nuclear industry and that small percentage of hafnium was found to degrade its performance. Given this need several expensive purification processes have been employed to separate the two metals for this application. Today, nearly 100% of the hafnium metal being traded comes therefore thanks to the nuclear power industry's needing their zirconium ridded of the unwanted \"contaminant\".\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eThese beautiful cubes are made from 99.95% pure pure hafnium. They feature perfectly sharp corners and flat, reflective walls. We are absolutely confident that you will be delighted with this collectible and that all who handle it will be wowed at its heft, its rarity and the precision of its craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eEach 10mm cube weighs 13.5±0.1g and the 25.4mm weighs 221±2g\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Labeled 10mm plastic box with ~1g pellets","offer_id":47820941164709,"sku":"Hf10.1mm","price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"10mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820941197477,"sku":"Hf10mm","price":97.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25.4mm Metal Cube","offer_id":47820941230245,"sku":"Hf25.4mm","price":1685.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Hafnium_baca0503-35c2-455a-898b-f6f9ed303677.webp?v=1778165589"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/collections\/Group_198.jpg?v=1777295656","url":"https:\/\/luciteria.com\/collections\/cubes.oembed?page=5","provider":"Luciteria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}