New Phenomena in Chemistry. 



179 



present the mercury is the electro-mean, and with the 

 oxidation of the potassium, it passes over to, and effects a 

 combination with the iron. 



Thus we arrive at a more correct classification, and at a 

 ,; law of preference of metals and alloys for mercury: 



1st Law. Metals that are easily alloyed with mercury 

 give place to, and assist the less amalgamatable metals in 

 combining with mercury, when in the presence of an 

 acid or corrosive liquid or atmosphere, which attacks the 

 metal already amalgamated, and which does not attack, 

 or does not so violently attack the metal to be amalga- 

 mated. 



2d Law. The more intense the action of the acid or 

 corrosive liquid or gas upon the metal in the original 

 amalgam, the more rapid the formation of the secondary 

 amalgam. 



3d Law. The amalgams of electro-positive metals, 

 assist those metals which are relatively electro-negative in 

 combining with mercury. 



These laws are the results of certain experiments which, 

 as examples, I will now proceed to describe and illustrate. 

 Placing before us mercury 1st, in the pure state; 2d 

 amalgamated with copper ; 3d zinc amalgam ; 4th aluminum 

 amalgam ; 5th sodium amalgam ; 6th potassium amalgam 

 and 7th "ammonium amalgam" (hydrogenium?) we may 

 suppose that we have the extremes and some of the means 

 of mercurial power ; mercury in the "pure passive, and in 

 the compound induced active state. To prove that it has a 

 passive and an active condition, it is only necessary to 

 exhibit gold leaf before the pure mercury, and each of the 

 several compounds mentioned. 



First It will be seen that with mercury alone it does 

 not readily amalgamate, and there is •no attraction of the 

 gold leaf toward the metal. 



