164 C. M. Wetherill—Experiments with Ammonium Amalgam. 
x. 18°. The ammonium amalgam cannot be formed with so- 
lution of nitrate of ammonia. With this reagent a very rapid 
evolution of gas takes place, and a globule of mercury remains. 
In this reaction there are no indications of hyponitrous or ni- 
trous acids, and a drop of sulphid of ammonium added to the 
resulting liquid produces no coloration, except in a film upon 
the globule of mercur a drop of fluid sodium amalgam be 
projected into a drop of solution of sal-ammoniac upon # glass 
plate, the ammonium amalgam is formed rapidly; but a few 
drops of solution of nitrate of ammonia poured upon the swelled 
mass, reduce it sees and without oe evolutions of nitrous 
rent: an extent as with oxalate of ammonia. The lobule of 
are SA Re 
Ex. 15°. With the battery—The ammonium amalgam 
formed by the battery, using different ammonia salts in conte 
with mercury at the negative 
The general characteristies of the oo thus obtained 
‘were the same as when sodium was employ 
With a Smee battery of six pairs, of whack each zine plate 
measured 3X5 inches, the amalgam was obtained in small pee ; 
tities; but ten of Bunsen’s elements were required to obtain 
sufficient to study its properties. 
By the electrolysis of a solution of sal-ammoniac contained 
ina U tube, which was furnished with a poru s diaphragm of 
tive pole. No formation of chlorid of nitrogen was detected — 
action, 
The amalgam did not form with mercury in the negative — 
out the meta of rer the decomposition then — the same as = 
out 
ith Bite rhs of nitrate of ammonia ina U tube, hyd 
and ammonia appeared at the nee pole, and nitric acid pe 
oxygen at the positive electrode. A small quantity of the 
collected at at the positive pole were absorbed by water. — 
If a globule of m . ury be aos. in ee fee es ina 
