How many mutually immiscible liquids can be stored in a glass bottle at S.T.P.?
According to
PATTLE, R. E. (1950). Systems of Mutually Immiscible Liquid Layers. Nature, 165(4188), 203–204.
a system of 6 immiscible phases can be formed (including mercury), but the ammonia layer disappears after a month. They suggest gallium could add another layer, giving:
- ammonia solution
- isobutyl alcohol
- liquid paraffin
- potassium carbonate solution
- methylene iodide
- gallium
- mercury
Could silicone oil and fluorocarbons create additional stable layers, and have there been any other systems suggested since 1950? I saw a 2006 reference with allegedly 8 phases.