356 Mr. Davy’s Electrochemical Researches on 
muriate of ammonia, the amalgam rapidly increased to six or 
seven times its volume, and the compound seemed to con- 
tain much more ammoniacal basis than that procured by elec- 
trical powers. 
As in these cases, however, a portion of the metal used for 
the deoxydation always remained in union in the compound; in 
describing the properties of the amalgam from ammonia, I 
shall speak only of that procured by electrical means. 
The amalgam from ammonia, when formed at the tempera- 
ture of 70° or 80, is a soft solid, of the consistence of butter ; 
at the freezing temperature it becomes firmer, and a crystal- 
lized mass, in which small facets appear, but having no per- 
fectly defined form.* Its specific gravity is below 3, water 
being one. 
When exposed to air it soon becomes covered with a white 
crust, which proves to be carbonate of ammonia. 
When thrown into water it produces a quantity of hydro- 
gene, equal to about half its bulk, and in consequence of this 
action the water becomes a weak solution of ammonia. 
When it is confined in a given portion of air, the air enlarges 
considerably in volume, and the pure quicksilver re-appears. 
Ammoniacal gas, equal to one and a half or one and three- 
fifths of the volume of the amalgam is found to be produced, 
and a quantity of oxygene equal to one-seventh, or one-eighth 
of the ammonia disappears. 'f 
• From the facet I suspect the form to be cubical. The amalgam of potassium 
crystallizes in cubes as beautiful, and in some cases as large, as those of bismuth. 
f This experiment confirms the opinions I have stated concerning the quantity of 
oxygene in ammonia; but as water is present, as will be immediately shewn, the data 
for proportions are not perfectly correct. 
