£1 6 Electrochemical Researches art 



fered in its relations to the general theory of electrochemical 

 science, induced me to examine the circumstances connected 

 with it minutely and extensively. 



In repeating the process of the Swedish chemists, I found 

 that to form an amalgam from fifty or sixty grains of mer- 

 cury, in contact with saturated solution of ammonia, required 

 a considerable time, and that this amalgam greatly changed 

 even in the- short period required for. removing it from the 

 solution. 



I was however able, in this mode of operating, to witness 

 all the results they have stated, and I soon found simple and 

 more easy means of producing the effect," and circumstances 

 under which it could be more distinctly analysed. 



The experiments which I have detailed in the Bakeriart 

 lecture for IS06, proved that ammonia is disengaged from 

 the anunoniacal salts, at 'the negative surface in the Voltaic 

 circuit; and f concluded that under this agency, it maybe 

 acted on in what is called the nascent state, when it was rea- 

 sonable to conclude it would be more readily deoxygenatecA 

 and combined with quicksilver. 



On this view of the subject, I made a cavity in a piece of 

 muriate of ammonia; into this a globule of mercury, weigh- 

 ing about fifty grains, was introduced. The muriate was 

 slightlv moistened, so as to be rendered a conductor, and 

 placed on a plate of platina, which was made positive in the 

 circuit of the large battery. The quicksilver was made 

 negative by means of a platina wire. The aetion of the 

 quicksilver on the salt was immediate ; a strong effer- 

 vescence with much heat took place. The globule in a 

 few minutes had enlarged to five times its former dimen- 

 sions, and had the appearance of an amalgam of zinc ; 

 and metallic crystallisations shot from it, as a centre, round 

 the bodv of the salt. They had an arborescent appearance, 

 often became coloured at their points of contact with the 

 muriate ; and when the connection was broken, rapidly dis- 

 appeared, emitting ammoniacal fumes, and reproducing 

 quicksilver. 



When a piece of moistened carbonate of ammonia was 

 used, the appearances were the same, and the amalgam was 



formed 



