2. Silver with copper. Silver and copper are easily alloyed in any proportion by fusion. The compound is harder than silver, and retains its white colour when the copper is half of the alloy or more.—The silver coin is a compound of 12⅓ silver and 1 copper, which nearly corresponds to 8 atoms of silver and 1 of copper. The hardest alloy is said to be when 5 silver unite to 1 copper; that is, 3 atoms of silver and 1 of copper.
3. Silver with iron. The alloys of silver and iron have not been very minutely examined. The two metals are said to unite by fusion, but the iron still retains its magnetism. The alloy is of a white colour, hard and ductile. When kept in fusion for some time the two metals separate, but not entirely. These circumstances shew the affinity between silver and iron to be weak.
4. Silver with tin. Silver and tin form a hard brittle alloy, which is of little if any use. The modifications arising from various proportions have not been particularly investigated.
5. Silver and lead. Silver and lead unite in any proportion and form a brittle alloy of a lead colour. The union is not very intimate; for when urged by heat the lead parts from the silver, as in the process of cupellation.
6. Silver and zinc. These two unite and form a brittle alloy of a blueish white colour. The proportions have not been particularly noticed.
7. Silver and bismuth. Silver and bismuth readily unite by heat. The alloy is brittle and its colour inclines to that of bismuth.
8. Silver and antimony. These metals unite by fusion and form a brittle alloy, which does not seem possessed of any remarkable properties.
9. Silver and arsenic. These two metals unite according to Bergman, the fused silver taking up ¹/₁₄ of its weight of arsenic; the alloy corresponds nearly to 3 atoms silver and 1 arsenic. It is brittle and of a yellowish colour.
Alloys of Mercury and other Metals: Amalgams.
The alloys of Mercury with the various metals have been commonly denominated amalgams.