of Liquids to Mercury . 143 



watch-glass and of a uniform weight of 80 grains, was employed ; 

 a small drop of liquid, as nearly as possible of uniform size, was 

 very carefully placed upon it, and the degree of rapidity with 

 which it spread and the diameter it attained repeatedly noted. 

 Uniformity of size of the drop was important. Liquids which 

 produced a film upon the mercury, such as bromine, or dissolved 

 the mercury, such as nitric acid, were not employed. The fol- 

 lowing order of substances with mercury at 60° F. was obtained, 

 the substance first named being the one that spread most readily, 

 and those braced together being about equal. The experiment 

 was repeated several times with allied liquids, to correctly deter- 

 mine their relative positions. 



fNordhausen sulphuric acid. 



\ Saturated solution of mononitrate of mercury, slightly bibasic. 

 /^Essential oil of lemon. 

 "\_Essential oil of turpentine. 



Saturated solution of persulphate of iron. 



1 ounce of teroxide of antimony dissolved in 6 ounces by 

 measure of hydrochloric acid. 



Ether. 



Pure sulphuric acid. 



Chloroform. 



Concentrated solution of phosphoric acid. 



Olive oil. 



Solution of chloride of zinc, spec. grav. 1'81. 



Alcohol. 



Glacial acetic acid. 



Saturated solution of carbazotic acid. 



Saturated solution of sulphate of copper. 



Benzole. 



Anhydrous terchloride of arsenic, containing no free chlorine. 



Spirit of wine. 



Strongest aqueous solution of ammonia. 



Saturated solution of carbonate of potash. 



Strong solution of hydrate of potash. 



The results indicate that, with regard to this phenomenon, 

 acids are at one extreme and alkalies at the other, water and 

 solutions of neutral salts being intermediate. The difference 

 between the behaviour of the substances at the two extremes of 

 the Table is very considerable. 



