C. M. Wetherill—Experiments with Ammonium Amalgam. 161 
itself, the swollen mass shrinks, and gradually resolves itself into 
NH,(NH, and Hg, because (as it is usually explained) NH, 
has a great tendency to fall apart into NH, and H. This expla- 
ee nation might be satisfactory when applied to the difficulty of 
| isolating NH,, as from any of its salts; but is not so in the case 
efore us. 
oO 
Bb 
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Bb 
— 
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be) 
as 
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ot 
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Lar] 
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Lear) 
NaCl+He. At the same time the molecules of the mass are 
altered in their capacity for cohesion by catalysis, polarity of 
By the kindness of Professor Henry, the opportunities of the 
laboratory of the Smithsonian Institution were afforded me in 
the winter of 1863-4, to perform the following experiments upon 
this subject, 
fi 
ceeded gradually to the inside, and the swelling was not so great 
at the close of the reaction. The more fluid the sodium amal- 
a Me: the more readily did the gwelling take place. 
aS ote ms So . . 
Sulphuric or hydrochloric acids, or into an aqueous solution of 
poses water, but not violently. The mercury Deane a 
d into dilute solutions of 
