: WetheriU on Compound Ammonium . 



Amalgams. 371 



To ascertain tliis fact, a portion 



of fluid sodium 



of the <\zo of a pea was placed in 



a small test t.d)e 



inm.), nnd the solntion of mnnioninn 



1 oxalate added, 



no: was ol)serve(l both witli iind withoi 



It shaking, in the 



witli warminj.. The same experirner 



It was })erf()nned 





irn oxalate. The 



swelled to Irom 8 to 1() times the 



original volume, 



ciiry. In nil eases slinking the tube appeared tc 



m order t() develop the swelling to its >te^ extent. In per- 



salt to^the methyl auiinouium tube by the finger. 



Ill the former experiments it was not deemed necessary to 

 form the compound ammonium amalgam by the aid of the 

 cattery ; in the present this result was attained in the following 

 manner, (^dde op. cit, Exp. 15). 



A piece of filter paper was placed upon a glass plate, then 

 saturated with a strong solution of the recrystallized methyl am- 

 monium oxalate. A globule of mercury of the size of a small 

 pea was placed upon the paper with the negative pole of 20 

 cells Bunsen in contact with it ; the positive pole touching the 

 paper. The globule swelled slightlv, presented a butteiy ap- 

 pearance, attached itself to and amalgamated the blade of a pen- 

 knife which was in contact with the negative pole, and upon 

 being pressed under a glass plate showed innumerable gas bubbles 

 «« its substance, (in fact was a metallic froth) which emitted an 

 ammoniacal odor. 



.It results from these experiments that the compound ammo- 

 n^as (at least that which I have examined) mav form the so-called 

 amalgam. I defer the bearing which this fact has upon the so- 

 called ammonium and hydrogenium amalgam to a paper of 

 some experiments which will shortly be published. 



