AMALGAM PRODUCED FROM AMMONIA. 55 



An operation, in which hidrogen and nitrogen exhibit 

 metallic properties, or in which a metallic substance is ap- 

 parently composed from its elements, cannot fail to fix the 

 attention of chemists: and the peculiar interest, which it 

 offered in its relations to the general theory of electrochemi- 

 cal science, induced me to examine the circumstances con- 

 nected with it minutely and extensively. 



In repeating the process of the Swedish chemists, I The p ™ cel8 

 found, that to form an amalgam from fifty or sixty grains of 

 mercury, in contact with saturated solution of ammonia, re- 

 quired a considerable time, and that this amalgam greatly 

 changed even in the short period required for removing it 

 from the solution. 



-I was however able, in this mode of operating, to witness 

 all the results they have stated, and I soon found simple and 

 more easy means of producing the effect, and circumstances 

 under which it could be more distinctly analysed. 



The experiments, which I have detailed in the Bakerian Ammonia pro- 

 lecture for 1806, proved, that ammonia is disengaged from n a SC em s \ate 

 the ammoniacal salts at the negative surface in the Voltaic would be acted 

 circuit; and I concluded, that, under this agency, it may Jj more rea * 

 be acted on in what is called the nascent state, when it was 

 reasonable to conclude it would be more readily deoxigen- 

 ated and combined with quicksilver. 



On this view of- the subject, T made a cavity in a piece of 50 grs. of mer- 

 muriate of ammonia; into this a globule of mercury, acavSy^n mi£ 

 weighing about fifty grains, was introduced. The muriate riate of ammo- 

 was slightly moistened, so as to be rendered a conductor, " l * and electri " 

 and placed on a plate of platina, which was made positive 

 in the circuit of the large battery. The quicksilver was 

 made negative by means of a platina wire. The action of 

 the quicksilver on the salt was immediate ; a strong effer- 

 vescence with much heat took place. The globule in a few Amalgam pro- 

 minutes had enlarged to five times its former dimensions, duced - 

 and had the appearance of an amalgam of zinc; and me- 

 tallic crystallizations shot from it, as a centre, round the 

 body of the salt. They had an arborescent appearance, of- 

 ten became coloured at their points of contact with the mu- 

 riate ; and when the connection was broken, rapidly disap- 



peared, 



