Mr Kemp 07i the J scent of Mercury on Wires of Iran. 343 



cury at the same time began to ascend on the wires, and con- 

 tinued to do so until it arrived as high as the hquid stood in the 

 jar, and, when it attained this height, it ceased to rise any higher. 

 And in whatever form the wire was bent, provided it was kept 

 beneath the surface of the muriatic acid and water, the mercury 

 followed it. 



The mercury, in this instance, does not merely form a coat- 

 ing on the surface of the wire, but if sufficient time be allowed, 

 it penetrates to its centre, and pervades every part of it, nor does 

 there seem any limit to the height to whicli it will ascend, if the 

 solution of the acid and water be present to favour the combi- 

 nation. 



When a quantity of any of the fixed or volatile oils is poured 

 over the surface of the muriatic acid and water, the combina- 

 tion ceases to go on through these liquids; nor will the mercury 

 ascend higher than the level of the solution of acid. 



In this action the zinc contained in the mercury becomes oxy- 

 dated, and is dissolved and taken up by the liquid ; and if suffi- 

 cient time is allowed, it will be found on the surface of the wire, 

 having a beautiful crystalline appearance ; and when the action 

 has ceased, the mercury will be left in its original pure state. 



Wires of platina, gold, silver, copper, brass, tin, iron, zinc 

 and steel, were subjected to this process, and the mercury rose 

 upon all of them, but with very different degrees of rapidity. 



A wire of platina, copper, iron and zinc, four inches in length, 

 being placed into the amalgam, the mercury rose in the space of 

 eight minutes to the top of the zinc- wire, in fourteen to the top 

 of the copper-wire, and to the top of the platina and iron wire 

 in about a minute longer. This rise, however, is not always 

 uniform, but on the zinc wire it invariably rises most rapidly. 

 By using a stronger solution of the acid and water, or by rais- 

 ing the temperature of the whole, the mercury rises more ra- 

 pidly on the wires, and it apparently bears an exact proportion 

 to the chemical action taking place on the surface of the metals. 

 The cause of this singular action appears to depend upon the 

 different and opposite electric states of the metals ; the amalgam 

 of the zinc and mercury being positive with respect to the 

 wires ; but whether it will account for the rapid rise on the 

 zinc wire, which is in the same electric state, seems rather 

 doubtful. 



