7. Mercury and lead. To 90 parts of lead I put 167 of mercury (1 atom of each); they united in a moderate heat and crystallized in about 180°. In a few days the mercury partly separated from the amalgam, and 56 parts were squeezed out, the whole was then put together with 90 parts more of lead (now 2 atoms lead to 1 mercury), and fused together; the amalgam crystallized in about 200°, and remained in a solid uniform mass.
8. Mercury and zinc. When 29 parts zinc and 167 mercury (1 atom to 1) are heated together, they combine and form an amalgam which crystallizes about 200°. A little of the mercury may be squeezed out when cold. By putting 29 parts more of zinc (2 atoms to 1) we obtain an amalgam which fuses considerably above 200°, and when cooled becomes a permanent hard crystalline mass.
9. Mercury and bismuth. When 62 parts bismuth are fused with 167 mercury (1 atom to 1), the compound remains fluid at common temperature, but crystallizes partially by standing; about ⅓ of the weight may be poured off like fluid mercury. If we put 62 bismuth more to the whole (so as to be 2 atoms to 1), the fluid amalgam crystallizes about 150 or 180°: the mass is soft however and by pressure one may squeeze out about 20 per cent. of a fluid amalgam. If we put 62 more bismuth (so as to be 3 atoms to 1), then the compound crystallizes between 200 and 300° into a darkish coloured granular soft mass which continues without any change. Higher than this of bismuth I have not examined.
10. Mercury and antimony. Antimony is said to form a feeble union with mercury, which is soon loosened by time. I made several unsuccessful trials to combine these two metals, which it seems unnecessary to detail, as the compound when formed is no ways interesting.
11. Mercury and arsenic. On the authority of Lewis an amalgam of mercury and arsenic may be made by keeping them over the fire for some time and constantly agitating the mixture. It is grey-coloured, and composed of 5 parts of mercury and 1 of arsenic.
Most of the other metals are incapable, as far as is known, of combination with mercury, excepting potassium and sodium considered as metals, which combine with mercury; but these alloys are of little interest, and the proportions have not been particularly investigated.
Triple, quadruple, &c. Amalgams.
Besides those amalgams which are formed of mercury and each single metal, there are others formed of mercury and alloys of two or more metals, which in some instances possess properties differing essentially from mere mixtures.
1. Mercury with bismuth and lead. When the amalgam formed of 2 atoms bismuth and 1 of mercury is mixed with that formed by 1 atom of lead and 1 of mercury, in such proportion that the mercury is the same in both, the two powders, though dry and crystalline at first, soon become a permanently fluid amalgam by trituration. The liquid in running along drags a tail after it, and is disposed to separate into portions less and more fluid, but the most fluid part is much inferior to pure mercury in this respect. Specific gravity of the amalgam, 11.
2. Mercury with fusible metal composed of 7 bismuth, 5 lead and 3 tin. A mixture of 4 parts fusible metal with 5 parts mercury compose the most fusible amalgam with a minimum of mercury that I have found. It is formed of 2 atoms bismuth, 1 lead, 1 tin and 2 mercury. Its specific gravity is 12.