No. of 
j Experiment 
Volume of 
the mixed 
gases. 
Volume of 
residual 
hydrogen. 
V olume of 
ammonia 
absorbed. 
Volumes of 
ammonia found 
for one volume 
of hydrogen. 
1 
c.cm. 
20-8 
c.cm. 
7-0 
13-8 
1-97 
2 
18-2 
6-2 
12-0 
1-93 
3 
12-8 
4-3 
8-5 
1-98 
i 4 
13-6 
4-6 
9-0 
1-95 
I believe these figures are as nearly accordant with the 
O J 
atomic proportions as could be expected from the means 
employed, where the possible error in determining the 
volumes might amount to perhaps *2 c.cm. 
In another similarly conducted experiment, in which it 
was sought to obtain as much gas as possible, the tube was 
closed too soon, and the result showed a deficiency of 
ammonia, but is otherwise interesting : — 
Experiment 5. 
Volume of 
Mercury in 
the amalgam 
c.cm. 
11-8 
Volume of 
amalgam, 
c.cm. 
30*5 
Volume of 
the mixed 
gases, 
c.cm. 
49-0 
Volume of 
residual 
hydrogen, 
c.cm. 
18-0 
A new observation on the amalgam lias recently been 
made in America by Professor C. A. Seeley,* who found, by 
subjecting it to varying pressure that its volume changes, 
apparently in accordance with Mariotte’s law. He employed 
simply a glass tube fitted with a plunger, and did not 
measure the pressures or volumes. His conclusions were 
that the amalgam is a mechanical or physical mixture of 
liquid mercury with the gases ammonia and hydrogen, and 
that its semifluid consistence is due to the mixture having 
the nature of a froth. 
Being desirous of submitting Seeley’s remark on the com- 
pressibility of the amalgam, to the test of direct measure- 
ment, I subjected the electrically formed amalgam to 
pressure in a glass tube 48 centimetres long and 1*3 centi- 
metres diameter. The pressure was applied by connecting 
the tube with a syringe, by which air could be forced into 
# Chem. Nezvs, .June 10th, 1870. 
