19 
metal is obtained in less time than by the mechanical method, 
and the resulting metallic powder is generally of a dull gray 
leaden color. When a solution of Potassium Bichromate is 
poured upon mercury, the convexity of the surface is at once 
destroyed ; presently the surface is tarnished and begins to 
look wrinkled, while at the same time a greenish-black pow- 
der commences to deposit itself This greenish-black powder 
is a mixture of Chromic and Mercurous Oxide; it is formed 
abundantly when the two liquids are agitated more or less 
strongly ; the Mercury is at the same time completely extin- 
euished, and at the end of the reaction neutral Potassium 
Chromate alone remains in solution, which is not acted upon by 
Mercury. Ferric Chloride extinguishes Mercury ; Ferrous and 
Mercurous Chlorides are formed. Potassium Permanganate 
also acts upon the metal; Manganic and Mercurous Oxides are 
deposited, while Potassic Hydrate remains in solution. Mer- 
eury shaken with Fehling’s solution, is simply extinguished 
mechanically, when all the reagents used are pure ; but when 
avery small quantity of Zinc-Amalgam is added, CuO is 
reduced from the solution. 
A solution of Potassium Ferricyanide does not affect the 
fluidity of Mercury; but when the two are shaken together, 
a green powder is formed in large quantities, which if allowed 
to stand, changes to a dark, and later still to a light blue 
color. Potassium Ferrocyanide appears to be formed at the 
same time. Jam still engaged in studying this interesting 
reaction, and will endeavor to determine if this blue powder 
is Prussian blue or not. Sodium Hyposulphite, also, does 
not affect the Mercury physically; on agitation, however, a 
heavy black powder, Mercuric Sulphide, is formed. Its 
amount increases with the lapse of time, and in one of my 
test-tubes, which has hardly been disturbed for weeks, the 
original black Sulphide has assumed a yellowish red color. 
I conclude from these observations that the reducing 
power of pure Mercury is greater than is generally supposed, ' 
and I expect to be enabled to obtain some interesting results 
from an extension of these experiments. 
I have repeated some of Loew's experiments, which he de- 
